Read on Twitter
Germany is considering "immunity certificates" for people who have positive antibody tests. This is hugely premature for at least three reasons. A short thread.
a) The tests we have now can tell you someone has antibodies but not whether the antibodies are neutralizing--ie, how strong the immunity is.
b) The tests can't tell you how long the immunity will last. No one can yet, we just don't know enough about this virus.
c) Not all the tests have been shown not to be cross-reactive with other coronaviruses. ie, we can't be sure whether they're picking up antibodies to this coronavirus.
Here's the article I'm reacting to. It's making me nervous. https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-germany-covid-19-immunity-certificates-testing-social-distancing-lockdown-2020-3
Without the answers to a, b and c, and probably many more immunologists can tell us, this seems foolhardy and dangerous. People who go out without real immunity could get infected/reinfected and keep the pandemic going.
