COVID-19 survivors can expect some level of protection: WHO

GENEVA: The World Health Organisation has rewritten guidance that suggested coronavirus survivors had no immunity from the disease and is now saying survivors can expect some level of protection.

The clarification follows concern from scientists about the brief originally issued by the UN agency. It had cautioned against the issuing of so-called “immunity passports”, which some countries are considering using as a route out of total lockdown, allowing survivors to resume a normal life and return to work.

“There is no evidence yet that people who have had Covid-19 will not get a second infection,” WHO said in its original scientific brief. However, the agency issued revised guidance on Twitter.

“Earlier today we tweeted about a new WHO scientific brief on immunity passports. The thread caused some concern & we would like to clarify,” said the global health agency.

“We expect that most people who are infected with #COVID19 will develop an antibody response that will provide some level of protection. What we don’t yet know is the level of protection or how long it will last.”

“We are working with scientists around the world to better understand the body’s response to #COVID19 infection. So far, no studies have answered these important questions,” it wrote.

Earlier today we tweeted about a new WHO scientific brief on “immunity passports”. The thread caused some concern & we would like to clarify:

We expect that most people who are infected with #COVID19 will develop an antibody response that will provide some level of protection. pic.twitter.com/AmxvQQLTjM

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 25, 2020

Many scientists said the original statement was badly worded and confusing. It was disputed by many, including Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia.

“Almost everyone who recovers from Covid-19 will have developed immunity otherwise they would not have recovered,” he told a British daily. “What we do not know is how long that immunity will last. It almost certainly will not last for life.”

The clarification is a further blow to the WHO’s reputation which has been dented by criticism of its response to the coronavirus pandemic. US President Donald Trump accused the WHO of showing bias towards China and has suspended US funding for the agency.