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20% of verified coronavirus patients did not develop immunity
 [JPost] - Only 80% of people who tested positive for coronavirus had antibodies to the virus, according to a report published Monday by the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Health Ministry and the Gertner Institute.The results mean that a percentage of people who develop asymptomatic or even mild cases of the virus could contract it again. The report was based on a serological survey conducted between June and August in the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community of Bnei Brak. The city has had some of the highest rates of infection in the country. The survey also found that the number of people who tested positive for antibodies increased with the number of sick patients, thought not proportionally. In June, 2% of the Bnei Brak population tested positive and 6.3% had antibodies. In July 4.1% tested positive and 6.4% had antibodies, and in August 5.6% tested positive and 13.8% had antibodies. On average, at the time that the research concluded, some 9% of the Bnei Brak population were thought to have immunity to coronavirus. "The infection rate is not nearly enough to assume herd immunity," said Dr. Boaz Lev, the ombudsman of the medical professions at the Health Ministry. Speaking at a briefing on Monday, he said that the results show that even in communities where the infection rate was high, social distancing and wearing masks continues to be important. The idea of herd immunity was advanced, through WHO by the Chinese - to lessen the World backlash against their virus release. And it was eagerly grasped by all kinds of people for their personal reasons: masks are uncomfortable, lockdowns harm businesses, a$$holes must trumpet their "individuality". The researchers said that Bnei Brak likely has a higher level of immunity today, but they could not say how high. Moreover, the available - pre pandemic - professional literature on coronoviruses shows that even these who acquire immunity shouldn't expect it to last more than a few months. Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-10-20 |
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