July 14, 2020

ANTIBODY TESTING WILL HELP INFORM THE FUTURE OF COVID-19 FIGHT

Experts say the antibody testing drive announced by Ramaphosa will allow us to make decisions about the social measures needed to fight the virus, while providing more information about how many people have already been infected and recovered.

Emergency paramedics wearing a full COVID-19 coronavirus personal protective equipment (PPE) transfer an empty gurney to an ambulance at the Greenacres Hospital in Port Elizabeth, on July 10, 2020. – Ambulances have to queue before patients suspected of having symptoms related to the COVID-19 coronavirus are triaged and admitted. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP)The Covid-19 antibody testing announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa for community-based surveillance will not only gauge if a person had the virus in the past, but could also offer potential clues to how exactly antibodies could fight off the disease. Dr Shakira Choonara, an independent public health practitioner, has said this would be another tool in our arsenal, needed to learn as much as possible about the virus. “…there could even be some clues to how antibodies can fight off the virus as they remain in the blood (immunity), but it’s too early to tell. Although, this could be the…

Read full article here:
https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/health/2320668/antibody-testing-will-help-inform-the-future-of-covid-19-fight/

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