General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsItalian regions testing for signs of coronavirus immunity
Riccardo Bastaniello
3 MIN READ
APRIL 6, 2020 / 12:41 PM / UPDATED 17 HOURS AGO
PADUA, Italy (Reuters) - Authorities in northern Italy have begun testing health workers for antibodies that may help identify individuals with immunity to the coronavirus as they look for ways to ease the lockdown imposed a month ago to contain the epidemic.
On Monday, the northeastern region of Veneto, which saw one of Italys earliest outbreaks of the disease in February, started blood tests on health workers, following neighbouring Emilia Romagna, which began testing last week.
I can announce that the blood tests on health workers have begun, said regional governor Luca Zaia.
Following an initial phase of testing on 2,000-3,000 health workers, tests are to be extended to staff and residents in nursing homes and workers in contact with the public.
[...]
janterry
(4,429 posts)So important!
OnDoutside
(19,908 posts)available
underpants
(182,284 posts)I've seen it slipped into articles here and there but I didn't think there was anything definitive on it yet. I looked it up yesterday and there isn't anything definitive on it yet.
Igel
(35,198 posts)If a lot of people that had COVID (tested positive) turn up not immune, we have a problem.
It'll also, if records are kept and the sample's relatively random, tell us something about asymptomatic infection rates.
It'll take a while to see if immunity persists more than a year or two. This is also an issue with the vaccine--if immunity is short-term only, then the vaccine won't necessarily be good for more than a couple of years.
underpants
(182,284 posts)Well at least we have a test population that listens to what they are being told.
I said months ago (I was the one at work that gave everyone a kickstart THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL) that our "rugged individualism" was going to get all up in our way.