There's "no evidence" coronavirus survivors can't be reinfected, WHO says

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There's "no evidence" coronavirus survivors can't be reinfected, WHO says

by Sophie Lewis

April 25, 2020 / 12:52 PM / CBS News

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The World Health Organization (WHO) said there is "no evidence" that survivors of COVID-19 cannot be reinfected with the virus. In a statement Saturday morning, WHO warned that antibodies may not adequately protect survivors, leaving them vulnerable to a second coronavirus infection.

The warning came as several countries, including the United States, are considering allowing people who have recovered to carry "immunity passports" or "risk-free certificates." That documentation would allow survivors to return to work and other activities under the assumption that they are immune from the virus. ...

April 24, 2000

WHO: "Immunity passports" in the context of COVID-19

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WHO has published guidance on adjusting public health and social measures for the next phase of the COVID-19 response.1 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” or “risk-free certificate” that would enable individuals to travel or to return to work assuming that they are protected against re-infection. There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection....

https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/immunity-passports-in-the-context-of-covid-19

Specializes in Dialysis.
16 hours ago, herring_RN said:

For those who haven't seen the WHO China information:

On 31 December 2019, the WHO China Country Office was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology (unknown cause) detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. As of 3 January 2020, a total of 44 patients with pneumonia of unknown etiology have been reported to WHO by the national authorities in China...

https://www.who.int/csr/don/05-January-2020-pneumonia-of-unkown-cause-china/en/

On 11 and 12 January 2020, WHO received further detailed information from the National Health Commission about the outbreak

https://www.who.int/csr/don/12-January-2020-novel-coronavirus-china/en/

On 22 January 2020: WHO mission to China issued a statement saying that there was evidence of human-to-human transmission in Wuhan but more investigation was needed to understand the full extent of transmission.

https://www.who.int/china/news/detail/22-01-2020-field-visit-wuhan-china-jan-2020

3 February 2020: WHO releases the international community's Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan to help protect states with weaker health systems.

https://www.who.int/publications-detail/strategic-preparedness-and-response-plan-for-the-new-coronavirus

11 March 2020: Deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction, WHO made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.

6 hours ago, Daisy4RN said:

This time line leaves out a few keys facts.

Taiwan told the WHO on Dec 30 that the virus was spread human to human

Jan 14 the WHO stated no human to human spread

Jan 30 Trump bans travel from China

WHO response was that banning travel was not necessary

....

Thanks to both of you for putting this out there, it's good to see the WHO official timeline in one place. I've seen parts on one thread, then other parts on another. Most of us have caught the bits and pieces, but don't want the hassle of putting them together in one place, especially when we can't remember exactly what threads they have been posted on

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Quote

14 January 2020

WHO's technical lead for the response noted in a press briefing there may have been limited human-to-human transmission of the coronavirus (in the 41 confirmed cases), mainly through family members, and that there was a risk of a possible wider outbreak. The lead also said that human-to-human transmission would not be surprising given our experience with SARS, MERS and other respiratory pathogens.

"Risk of wider outbreak"

"Human to human transmission would not be surprising given our experience with SARS, MERS and other respiratory pathogens."

In my view, that dues not equate to saying that there was no human to human transmission.

https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/08-04-2020-who-timeline---covid-19

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Specializes in adult ICU.

Just because there's no evidence as of now that survivors cannot be reinfected doesn't mean that they CAN and will be reinfected. Evidence is going to take time. That's all I'm reading into this statement as it stands.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

I wonder if reinfection is happening or relapse of the original infection?

There is also evidence that younger, healthier people are having major strokes with COVID-19.

There is still so much we don't understand about this virus.

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2 minutes ago, lifelearningrn said:

I wonder if reinfection is happening or relapse of the original infection?

There is also evidence that younger, healthier people are having major strokes with COVID-19.

There is still so much we don't understand about this virus.

I think this virus has a strong cardiac based issue and not just respiratory. I say that because there are many symptoms that are circulation based and not just respiratory. Plus if the cardiac system is in trouble, there will be respiratory issues.

You're right, we are lacking in basic understanding of this virus and it's not a good feeling to be in as a healthcare provider.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

From the WHO:

As the traveler did not report having visited the market linked to most of the other cases, it is vital that investigations continue to identify the source of infection. To date, China has not reported any cases of infection among healthcare workers or contacts of the cases. Based on the available information there is no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission. No additional cases have been detected since 3 January 2020 in China.

https://www.who.int/csr/don/14-January-2020-novel-coronavirus-thailand-ex-china/en/

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
2 minutes ago, lifelearningrn said:

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/doctors-warn-30-50-year-olds-covid-19-stroke-risk/4GXH73GRTBCADLWPOGTXHR25RI/

I saw this info also (elsewhere), they think it might be because of comorbidities, DM, obese, etc

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Specializes in Dialysis.
9 minutes ago, NurseBlaq said:

You're right, we are lacking in basic understanding of this virus and it's not a good feeling to be in as a healthcare provider.

You're not kidding. And it's hard to give good info to patients when sources change their info and stance on what seems to be an hourly basis-an exaggeration, I know, but some days, it seems like it!

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6 minutes ago, Daisy4RN said:

I saw this info also (elsewhere), they think it might be because of comorbidities, DiM, obese, etc

It may be due to comorbidities, genetics, or undiagnosed health problems. I personally think it's affecting Black people heavily due to silent heart disease. Silent heart disease is the number one killer in the Black community. There are also strong family histories of it running through families.

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