A study published on Tuesday shows that nearly two-thirds of the Chareidi population in London have coronavirus antibodies, likely
the highest recorded rates in a community in the world.

The study, performed by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), showed that 64% of Chareidi Jews have virus antibodies, which includes 28% of children under the age of five and over half of school-age children.

The number is staggering compared to the 11% infection rate in the general population in London and just 7% across the UK.

“Estimates are amongst the highest sero-prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 described anywhere in the world to date,” the researchers stated.

According to the study, the main source of infection among Chareidi Jews in London was at Purim gatherings during the first wave and morbidity sharply decreased after a lockdown was imposed in the city.

The researchers noted that it cannot be assumed that the community has herd immunity despite its high infection rate and health regulations must still be strictly maintained.

(Yeshiva World).