Previous COVID infection provides at least 5 months of immunity, study finds

© NIKLAS HALLE’N
BRITTANY-HEALTH-VIRUS

London – Most people who have had COVID-19[female[feminine have some immunity to catching it again for at least five months, according to a study from Public Health England. Research from the UK government’s health agency has shown that an infected person is 83% less likely than a person without a previous infection to catch the coronavirus again over a five-month period.

The researchers noted, however, that someone who has been infected may still be able to pass the virus on and pass it on to others, even if they no longer get sick.

The period of partial immunity begins when a person first becomes ill, according to the study.

The data comes from months of regular testing of health workers, both for active infections and for antibodies indicating past infection, carried out by Public Health England across the UK since June.

The agency warned that the results suggest people who sick with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic in the spring could now be vulnerable to catching it again. He also warned that while people who had previously been ill could be protected themselves, preliminary data from the next stage of the study showed that they may still carry high levels of the virus and that they may still carry high levels of the virus. should always practice social distancing wear masks to avoid infecting others.

“This study has given us the clearest picture to date of the nature of antibody protection against COVID-19, but it is essential that people do not misunderstand these early findings,” said Professor Susan Hopkins, Senior Medical Advisor for Public Health England, in a statement. .

“We now know that most of those who have had the virus and have developed antibodies are protected against reinfection, but it is not total and we do not yet know how long the protection lasts. Basically, we think people can still be successful. the virus on. “

“Now more than ever, it is vital that we all stay at home to protect our health care service and save lives,” said Hopkins.

Scientists will continue to monitor people involved in the study for a year to see how long the immunity lasts, how effective the vaccines are, and to confirm whether people who have contracted the virus are still able to transmit it to others.

They will also work to determine if a previous infection with COVID-19 can prevent a person from getting sick with the new highly infectious variant of the virus that emerged late last year in southern England.