High antibodies level - unnecessary quarantine?

[gracijela]

We recently returned from one of the 'red-listed' countries and are required to self-isolate for 14 days, meaning no school for my Y4 son. However, all of us had Covid-19 and have, previously and most recently, tested positive for IGg antibodies, with all of us showing a high level of those.

Is anyone in a similar situation - it seems that, since we have been through it and are, consequently, being asked to donate blood, this quarantine doesn't make sense.

It doesnt but, there is something apparently in news today re reinfection. They arent sure you aret contagious again. So yes you need to quarantine.
Maybe BJ has it again and has infected the school he visited...

They are hoping that antibodies can be used in treatment and are therefore collecting them in that hope (so that any such treatment can be rolled out immediately if it is found to be useful), but at the same time cannot rule out reinfection being possible. Even if people who catch the virus for a second time won't experience such severe (or even any) symptoms as others they may well be just as able to spread the virus to others which is what quarantine prevents against. Depending on the exact nature of what antibodies prevent it may even be that those with antibodies are more likely to be unknowingly spreading the virus than the population as a whole (such as if antibodies prevent a second symptomatic infection but do not stop transmission into others).

You could get it again, so while you feel ok and know you’ve had it you may actually be contagious again and pass it onto someone who hasn’t had it before and is vulnerable. Is that makes sense?

It's utterly ridiculous. I agree with you, but I expect there is concern amongst the powers that be that if you are let off quarantine everyone will run out and try to catch it, so that after they've had it they can live their lives as normal.

The research suggests that immunity may last up to 40 weeks (which is the case for most corona viruses). However this is a novel virus so more studies need to be done.

Immunity is a lot more complex than just antibody level.

I would highly recommend the Science VS podcast.

gimletmedia.com/shows/science-vs

The good news is there isn’t anyone, unless someone can prove me wrong, who have had it twice and been ill with it, so far.

@OverTheRainbow88

You could get it again, so while you feel ok and know you’ve had it you may actually be contagious again and pass it onto someone who hasn’t had it before and is vulnerable. Is that makes sense?

I am not disregarding the possibility of getting the virus again, but I assumed that it is not possible while still having a high level of IGg.

I understand that the question is how long does it last, but was under the impression that while you still have it you cannot be re-infected.

@Treesofwood

It's utterly ridiculous. I agree with you, but I expect there is concern amongst the powers that be that if you are let off quarantine everyone will run out and try to catch it, so that after they've had it they can live their lives as normal.

Isn't "living their (our) lives as normal" the ultimate aim?

Graciela It is (although I think some people are a bit addicted to the drama) But they won't want people viewing it as a good idea to catch it in order to be exempt from future lockdowns/closed school bubbles/quarantine. I think you should be exempt, but if you were lots of people will actively try to catch it/prove they have had it in order to enjoy the same perks.