Study: COVID survivors protected from reinfection for at least six months

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• UK researchers found that most people who had tested positive for Covid-19 retain antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 for 3 months following natural infection.
• The findings are an indication that previous COVID-19 patients can be assured of protection against subsequent infection for at least 6 months.
• The study also found an increase in seroprevalence over the 6-month study period from the end of May 2020 to the start of December 2020.

A major UK study suggested that former COVID-19 patients may be assured of protection against reinfection for at least six months.

The study, which was carried out at the UK Biobank, involved measuring the amount of previous COVID-19 infection in various population groups across the UK as well as the length of time the antibodies remained in those infected.

“The vast majority of people retain detectable antibodies for at least six months after infection with the coronavirus,” said Professor Naomi Allen, chief scientist at the UK Biobank on Wednesday.

According to study findings, 99 percent of the participants who previously got infected with COVID-19 maintained antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 for three months, and 88 % still had them even after six months of follow-up in the study.

“Although we cannot be certain how this relates to immunity, the results suggest that people may be protected against subsequent infection for at least six months following natural infection,” Allen added.

She also noted that the seroprevalence-the proportion of the UK population with COVID-19 antibodies- increased from 6.6% during the start of the study in May/June 2020 to 8.8% between November and December of the same year. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence rose as high as 12.4% in London and as low as 5.5% in Scotland.

Furthermore, Allen said that the results of the study agree with other studies conducted in the United Kingdom and Iceland where antibodies in recovering COVID-19 patients tended to persist for several months.

A similar study about UK healthcare professionals published last month indicated that people who previously tested positive for the coronavirus may have protection for about five months. However, it said that those with antibodies can still potentially carry the virus and infect others.

Source: AOL