Covid update: no guarantee of immunity
Latest studies show there’s no lasting antibodies from Covid, although there’s still some hope that other elements in our immune systems might step up instead.
Groups protecting the homeless are expecting a second wave as our emergency rooms are near capacity.
Can gay saunas actually operate while respecting distancing rules? It’s in doubt.
EmilyG 22:04 on 2020-06-28 Permalink
I thought the lack of antibodies thing was much more common in asymptomatic people than those who had symptoms?
At least, I think I read that in an article, but I’ve seen a lot of articles lately and I don’t remember quite where it was.
Ephraim 22:05 on 2020-06-28 Permalink
NYC health suggests glory holes… https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/imm/covid-sex-guidance.pdf
mare 22:56 on 2020-06-28 Permalink
The CBC “no antibodies” article has a not so subtle slight of Quebec.
“Some countries such as Sweden and at least one Canadian province have previously suggested that one way to control the spread of COVID-19 is to allow most of the population to get infected in a controlled fashion to generate “herd immunity.”
We won’t name Quebec, but we all know which province we’re talking about, don’t we? The link of course goes to an old article about Quebec.
ant6n 04:49 on 2020-06-29 Permalink
Well “at least one” means there could be more provinces 😉
Kate 09:41 on 2020-06-29 Permalink
mare, you may have become un vrai québécois if you’ve begun to feel it’s a slight to Quebec to simply state a detrimental fact openly in the media.
John S 06:12 on 2020-06-30 Permalink
To follow up, a recent preprint from a group in Sweden has reported robust T cell responses (different from antibodies) in asymptomatic contacts of patients who had COVID. Many of these responders had no antibodies at all. Antibody measurements may not be the best measure of immunity, They’re just easier to do than T cell studies so they have had more press. Immunity post COVID19 exposure may indeed be a reasonable expectation.
JaneyB 14:49 on 2020-06-30 Permalink
@John S – very interesting. It’s hard to stay aware of just how fresh this research is. We’re basically seeing the expert debates in real time and trying to make sense of it with the average person’s limited biology knowledge. I will stay hopeful 🙂