The World Health Organization (WHO) said there is no evidence that patients who have recovered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, cannot be re-infected with the virus.
In short, it is unclear whether COVID-19 survivors are actually immune to the virus.
The WHO said COVID-19 survivors develop antibodies to the virus but they do not offer enough protection against a second infection, according to CBS News.
The health organization has issued a warning as the United States and other countries have been considering issuing COVID-19 survivors with “immunity passports” or “risk-free certificates” that would allow them to return to work and other activities, assuming that they are immune to the virus.
However, the WHO said issuing such certificates could increase the risk of coronavirus spread, CBS News reported.
“Some governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could serve as the basis for an “immunity passport” or “risk-free certificate” that would enable individuals to travel or to return to work assuming that they are protected against re-infection,” the WHO said.
“There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection,” the agency added.
Globally, COVID-19 has affected more than 3,220,000 and killed over 228,200 so far. In the United States, health officials reported more than 1,064,500 confirmed cases and over 61,600 deaths so far.
