Can you go out freely once you have had covid?

[kingis]

Do you need to follow rules even though you probably have immunity?

A JAMA article on the WHO site says communities who survive will be immune and scientists have already found antibodies and over 100,000 people have recovered. Theres no evidence to say this virus is reacting differently to all other known viruses in regards to immunity. The retesting positive could be down to faulty testing.

Seeing as Spain have had to chuck out a load of test kits from China I really do not believe the results of those tests that were done initially. The ophthalmologist who died from Covid in China and first discovered it tested negative multiple times. He died from it.

Coronaviruses aren’t new, this particular strain is.

All the other coronaviruses (and other types like rhinovirus) generally do confer immunity, for a period of time at least.

So it seems likely that you won’t get it again, but not guaranteed.

I suppose you could still be a walking surface and transmit to others that way, but they think the vast majority of infections are person to person so that risk is minimised.

All we can do is follow the guidance when we get it.

@ jmcg2015

I understand that you can’t ‘get’ this virus twice.

BUT you can still transmit it on your person in the same way you could before and you can pass it to those who haven’t had it.

Just because I’ve already been infected with it (if I had) doesn’t mean I can’t pass it on.
It just means I can’t be infected again.

@00Sassy no you can't pass it on, that's not how viruses work. Have a look at some of the past daily conferences, the information is all on there. Dont rely on Google searches, all kinds of bad information out there

So just because I’ve been infected by it I can’t pick up the virus on my hands/clothes/person any longer?

I work in a hospital and that’s not what we’re being told.

@00sassy is correct. You can still be a surface on which the virus can be transmitted so you still need to practice handwashing, social distancing etc

You don't get "immunity" You can get it twice.

There was an article in the NYT about a nurse in China who built up too much of an "immunity" so her immune system started attacking itself and she passed away.

There's many people who have had the virus and recovered, more of those who we don't know as they have been tested. Those in that situation absolutely cannot pass it on of they did catch it again, which in itself is rare. They aren't carriers in any way. So just as the NHS workers in that position can and should return to work, so can the others. That's the main aim that they are looking for and why there will be a wider increase in testing

Presumably you could still carry it on your hands from trolley handle to door handle for example. Or on your clothes etc. I don't see how immunity alone would prevent spread

KimchiLaLa source for the fact that you don't get immunity and can get it twice?

My understanding, as a scientist who reads a lot and generally understands these things, also my own common sense from many years of being an adult and observing things, is that you do build up immunity to viruses. There is always the odd person who for whatever reason loses that immunity - eg some people get chicken pox more than once, but they are notable because they are the unusual rare case.

The story of the nurse who died will be a news story because what happened to her is unusual. That's not to diminish what happened to her, but assuming it will be the same in every single other person is just wrong.

You are probably immune if you've been tested, but still have to abide by the rules

And I'm pretty sure in due course people who have tested positive, I'm a reliable trustworthy context, will be allowed out freely. Given we only got the antibody tests in the last few days, and given lots and lots of people are ignoring the social distancing rules it makes sense that the gov aren't putting this in place now - you'd have ever Tom Dick and Harry who has had a cold in the last 6 months insisting they're fine to do what they want because they've definitely had covid. But in time, as things calm a little and as we build up a volume of data to enable us to trust the new antibody tests, them I'm sure people who can give proper evidence they have had covid will be allowed out. Most transmission is by people with the virus coughing it out and spreading that around. Or poeppe not yet aware they're infected touching things after eg nibbling their finger nails. It makes sense that once we mainly have immune poeple walking around, pressing buttons, touching handles, then the spread will be massively reduced

*in a reliable trustworthy context. Not I'm

www.france24.com/en/20200328-can-the-coronavirus-infect-someone-twice

And this, which shows the argument is inconclusive:

www.newscientist.com/article/mg24532754-600-can-you-catch-the-coronavirus-twice-we-dont-know-yet/

All I know is at the moment (prior to testing to see if I’ve already had it)
I’m being told that I can transmit it on my person.
I don’t see how, if I’ve been infected by it, I still won’t be able to transmit it?!

I doubt it, there is not enough known for 1 thing, also high risk of pension thinking they have had it, going out and infecting people because they haven’t.

You can still carry the virus from one person to another.

Your antibodies won’t protect anyone else from the virus on your hands, clothes, bags,...

@00Sassy well whoever is telling you is wrong. The experts are telling you, that's all you should need to know. Do you think they are wrong to test NHS workers and ask those who have had it to return to work? If you believe they can still pass it on, you must think so. I don't understand why you don't believe what the experts are telling you or why you think they would risk the lives of patients. Rely on the experts. @CovoidanceMechanism likewise that is not correct, it is not what the experts are telling , it just doesn't work like that. This is not my opinion, it is what the experts are telling us. Both it is important not to spread misinformation, it really is and that is what you are both doing. Please watch the daily briefings and listen to the experts

It's great that experts are back in fashion

My fun scenario is that we end up with two classes of people: the haves and the have nots. The haves all get to go back to normal life. The have nots get to live life in a safe bubble never going anywhere or doing anything.

Thered be no scientific reason to stay indoors but you'd still be expected to follow the rules, at least until such time as antibody testing is available - which is probably never for the general population.

There is a chance you could still carry it, we don't know enough to say you can go out freely.

@ jmcg2015

Can you explain a little more about how the experts think that my antibodies will stop me from picking up a virus on my person?

It’s a physical thing, a virus.
It can be picked up on the hands and transferred that way.
It can get onto my clothes and be transferred that way.
Hence the need for frequent hand washing and removing uniform before leaving work and washing that uniform as soon as I get home.

Why once I’ve been infected, would these measures not apply to me?

@TestBank it's the branch of people who refuse to listen to what the experts say. Just point blank refuse and prefer to believe the answer of someone on Facebook. Unbelievable. If you were suggesting I think I'm an expert, I did say that the things in relaying are straight from the daily briefings, I do not pretend to or aim to understand any of the science, I'm happy to believe those who have spent a lifetime in the field. Just wish others would

@00Sassy you would have to ask the experts, I've never claimed to be one. If you mistrust them so, I don't think any answer will satisfy you and there's nothing anyone can say to be honest