Category: Natural Immunity
-
Herd immunity may be closer than we think
Several experts are now saying that the herd immunity threshold (HIT) for the new coronavirus may be much lower than previously predicted. In this article for The New York Times, Apoorva Mandavilli interviews experts like Bill Hanage, an epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Tom Britton, a mathematician at Stockholm University,…
-
96-year old woman survives COVID-19 in Bacolod City
This article published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer reports on the startling recovery of Marciana de Asis, 96 years old, from COVID-19. Just two weeks ago, De Asis’ son-in-law, 75, a retired intelligence officer of the Philippine Army had succumbed to the virus. He was also known to be a diabetic. Everyone in their household were swab…
-
CDC changes guidelines for testing: No more test for asymptomatics
On August 27, 2020 CDC released new guidelines which states that it no longer recommends testing for individuals without symptoms even when they have been exposed to someone positive with the virus. In this news report from CNBC, Brett Giroir says that the goal of this change is to shift testing so that it is driven…
-
The key to overcoming COVID-19 already exists
In this July 23, 2020 article for Newsweek, Harvey A. Risch, professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health offers support for the use of hydroxychloroquine among COVID-19 patients. Risch cites various studies and doctor experiences proving that hydroxychloroquine, when given early and at the right dosage, can help prevent complications (as well as…
-
Immune memory offers hope for collective immunity
This New York Times article published last August 16, 2020 features a number of scientists saying that immune systems of those infected with the coronavirus can recognize the virus even months after recovery [new studies show that immunity to the virus can last for years, see New study found pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 immunity in general population].…
-
WHO: Pandemic has changed, now driven by 20s, 30s, 40s
More people below 60 are testing positive for the coronavirus and the WHO is concerned. In a news report published August 18, 2020 by Reuters, Takeshi Kasai said that people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, many of whom are asymptomatic, are increasingly driving the spread of the virus. Kasai also expressed concerns that this could…
-
New study found pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 immunity in general population
Findings of a new study published by Nature suggests that infection and exposure to coronaviruses induces long lasting memory T cells. Scientists from Duke-NUS Medical School in collaboration with the National University of Singapore Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, the Singapore General Hospital, and the National Centre for Infectious Disease, found SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells…
-
Sweden’s COVID-19 experience from the eyes of a Swedish doctor
In his article posted August 4, 2020 in his blog, Dr. Sebastian Rushworth says that the pandemic is over in Sweden. He says that he hasn’t seen a single COVID patient in over a month and at the time he wrote his article, Sweden was registering 5 COVID deaths per day in the entire country…
-
Herd immunity may still be the key to fighting COVID-19
In this article for The Spectator, Harvard professor of medicine Martin Kulldorff tries to answer the important question: how do we gradually re-open society? Which institutions will be allowed to open first, and which ones should remain closed? Kulldorff clarifies that herd immunity is not a strategy, but a phenomenon. The basic strategy for pandemic…
-
Mumbai’s poorest may already have collective immunity against SARS-COV-2
A serological survey conducted in three suburbs in India shows that six in ten people living in Mumbai slums have developed antibodies against the new coronavirus. Collectively, that’s 57% of Mumbai slum dwellers known to have antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 – the highest immunity levels anywhere in the world. Researchers say that this could explain…
