Coronavirus patients who were tested positive for second time not infectious, research found

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The latest study from Korea indicates that reinfected coronavirus patients had developed a certain level of antibodies.
• Other than the immunity, the said patients are somehow incapable of infecting other people.
• The study can help local governments and states in the U.S in making their decisions in terms of reopening their economies.

Scientists in Korea discovered proof that individuals who were infected by coronavirus the second time are incapable of contaminating others, and may have developed counteracting antibodies that helps them prevent another sickness.

The analysis from the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) might have significant implications for regions seeking to open their businesses again, and made health officials in the country to rectify their rules for individuals who have been cleared from quarantine.

Experts studied at least 285 cases of COVID-19 recoveries but later tested positive following several negative tests indicating they recovered. The researchers tested a total of 790 contacts, and no one was confirmed positive after being exposed to patients that are reinfected.

The data also showed that virus samples gathered from these patients wouldn’t animate under culture, which means the patients were only flaking lifeless virus elements.

Scientists also found neutralizing antibodies in all sampled reinfection cases as well as recently tested positive individuals.

After scrutiny of the latest study, KCDC is considering easying up on the restrictions it has on people, which include requiring them to have a confirmed negative COVID-19 test result before allowing them to resume school or work.

The new protocol states that no extra tests are necessary for patients who have been cleared from isolation.

The recent report could be a safety guide for the U.S along with local government and states as they gradually reopen economies.

The analysis could also potentially open a new understanding of the conflicting immunity and antibody examinations.

Government leaders are also relying on the results of the tests to draft policies and legislation decisions when the science around COVID-19 resistance is still uncertain.

Meanwhile, medical authorities have warned against calling significant decisions based on testing results since it was still undetermined if a positive reaction for antibodies would also mean and individual is insusceptible to the virus.

Scientists trust the manifestation of antibodies could possibly mean patients had exposure and likely developed some level of defense against the bug, but this yet to be proven.

They also admitted they don’t have data about how long immunity would last.

The KCDC research also indicated that in spite of antibodies, around 44 percent of the reinfected people showed symptoms such as sore throat and as a cough.

Source: The Hill