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Scientists are still looking at how long immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus lasts after it has contracted it. More and more studies confirm that antibodies last up to several months, and their amount is almost an individual matter. People who have had COVID-19 are protected from reinfection for at least five months, according to a new study.
- New research shows that antibodies persist for at least five months after contracting COVID-19. However, this does not mean that re-infection with the coronavirus is not possible
- Scientists observed that some of the people who had antibodies detected had high viral loads in the throat and nose, which meant that they could potentially continue to infect people around them
- You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page
Researchers from Public Health England (PHE) have studied how long immunity lasts after contracting COVID-19. According to their observations, it is at least five months. A study that has yet to be reviewed found that infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in the past was associated with 83% of respondents. a lower risk of reinfection compared to people who were not previously infected.
However, scientists caution that protection against infection is not absolute. Eventually, some people who have contracted COVID-19 become infected again. It is also possible that people who have immunity to the virus may still be carriers.
“ We now know that most people who have had the virus and developed antibodies are protected against reinfection, but it’s not complete protection and we don’t know how long it lasts yet, ” Susan Hopkins, senior medical advisor at PHE and co-author of the study, said in a statement. .
See also: How long does resistance to COVID-19 last? Scientists dispel doubts
Almost 21 people were regularly tested in the SIREN study by PHE. Healthcare professionals from across the UK from June to November 2020. Of the participants surveyed, 6 tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-614. 2 thousand subjects had no signs of previous infection.
The researchers observed that 44 of those in the antibody group developed a new infection. 83 percent people were protected against re-infection. The test will continue for 12 months to see if the protection will last even longer. So far, the identified duration of immunity shows that people who contracted the infection in the first wave of infection may now be at risk of reinfection.
In the same study, researchers observed that despite acquired immunity, some people were still able to transmit high viral loads, making them potential carriers of the infection.
“We found people with very high levels of the virus in nasal and throat swabs that could cause further transmission of the infection,” Hopkins explained in an interview with the BBC.
She stressed that people who have previously contracted COVID-19 should still follow the rules of social distancing to avoid transmission of the disease.
A disturbing finding is that some people, despite having antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, may still be able to transmit the coronavirus and may transmit it to others. This means that the vast majority of the population will have to obtain immunity either naturally or through vaccination to fully lift the limitations in our lives. Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor of cell microbiology at the University of Reading commented on the results of the study.
The editorial board recommends:
- WHO: We will not achieve herd immunity this year
- Coronavirus infection can occur even after ten days of quarantine
- Coronavirus in the US. Building natural herd immunity. Experts: Disastrous Plan
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