A British study shows that many people who were infected with the coronavirus have shown a sharp decrease in antibodies after three months, leading to questions about potential long-term immunity for COVID survivors, Politico reports.
The number of infected people who tested positive for antibodies dropped by 26% after three months, according to the REACT2 study published Tuesday, with asymptomatic people having the sharpest reduction.
“We don’t yet know what level of antibody is needed in a person’s blood to prevent reinfection,” said Wendy Barclay, head of infectious disease department at Imperial College London. Barclay noted that seasonal colds, another form of coronavirus, can reinfect people every six months.