COVID-19: WHO says people who recovered from Coronavirus can be re-infected

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has disclosed that there is no evidence that people who recovered from Coronavirus (COVID-19) cannot be re-infected.

In a “Scientific Brief” released from its headquarters in Geneva on Saturday and posted on its website, WHO warned against propagating the idea of COVID-19′ immunity passport.’

“Some governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could serve as the basis for an ‘immunity passport.’

“They have suggested that it could serve as an ‘immunity passport’ or ‘risk-free certificate’ that would enable individuals to travel or return to work, assuming they are protected against re-infection.

“There’s currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.

“The development of immunity to a pathogen through natural infection is a multi-step process that typically takes place over one to two weeks,” WHO said.

WHO also said that it would continue to review the evidence on antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

“Most of these studies show that people who have recovered from infection have antibodies to the virus.

“However, some of these people have very low levels of neutralizing antibodies in their blood, suggesting that cellular immunity may also be critical for recovery.”