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A feasibility study on COVID offers two important takeaways: First, most of those who get the infection appear to be immune for at least five months. And secondly, even those with antibodies may spread the infection to others. The results come from a study among 21,000 health workers in the UK, reports CNN. One caveat: the study has not yet been reviewed by peers. In terms of immunity, the study found that people who tested positive for COVID had an 83% lower risk of catching it again within five months. This is the core of the efficiency rate of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines (94% -95%) that is now being distributed, says Forbes. However, researchers can not say with certainty how long the protection of immunity lasts longer than five months. The worrying part of the results concerns the ability of people with antibodies to spread the virus further.
“We found people with very high amounts of virus in their nasal and throat swabs, which would easily be in the range that would cause levels of transmission to other individuals,” said Susan Hopkins of Public Health England and co-leader of the study. The result is that researchers say that everyone, including those with antibodies, should take the usual precautions with masks and social distance, according to Reuters. “These data reinforce the message that for the time being, everyone is a potential source of infection for others and should act accordingly,” said Eleanor Riley of the University of Edinburgh, who was not involved in the study. the 21,000 people in the study tested 6,614 positive for antibodies. Of the latter group, 44 possible reinfections were discovered. (Double mask can be even better.)