The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that there’s currently no evidence that those who have contracted the coronavirus disease and have recovered from it are immune to reinfections.
WHO released a new statement as some countries have stated that they will be producing “immunity passports” and/or “risk-free certificates” for those who have recovered from COVID-19 to be able to travel or return to work.
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“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,” said WHO.
Chile earlier announced that they will be issuing such health passports to allow their residents to return to work, while the U.S. was planning the issuance of immunity cards as one of their options to normalize the situation.
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WHO advises against such measures, stating that these plans who undermine global efforts to stay safe from the disease and avoid further transmissions especially for the vulnerable sectors.
“People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice. The use of such certificates may therefore increase the risks of continued transmission,” said WHO.
As of press time, there are 2,897,883 confirmed cases worldwide, with 202,880 deaths and 817,042 recoveries.
