(Newser)
– A preliminary study on COVID offers two important conclusions: First, most people who contract the infection appear to be immune for at least five months later. And secondly, even those with antibodies may be able to spread the infection to others. The results come from a study of 21,000 health professionals in the UK, reports CNN. A caveat: the study has not yet been peer-reviewed. Regarding immunity, the study found that people who tested positive for COVID had an 83% lower risk of getting it again in five months. This is in the estimate of the effectiveness rate of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines (94% -95%) now being distributed, notes Forbes. However, researchers cannot say with certainty how long beyond five months immunity protection lasts. The worrying part of the results involved the ability of people with antibodies to spread the virus further.
“We found people with very high amounts of virus in their nose and throat swabs, who 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 the researchers say that everyone, including those with antibodies, should continue to take the usual care with masks and social distance, according to Reuters. “This data reinforces the message that, for now, everyone is a potential source of infection for others and should behave accordingly,” said Eleanor Riley, of the University of Edinburgh, who was not involved in the study. In terms of gross numbers, of the 21,000 people in the study, 6,614 tested positive for antibodies. Of that last group, 44 possible reinfections were discovered. (Double masks can be even better).