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The main points of this Korean CDC report on the cases in Korea that have been re-tested positive for COVID19, even after being treated and cleared for the virus
(This is something I've been following with some interest, and I thought it would be worth translating.)
(This is something I've been following with some interest, and I thought it would be worth translating.)
- 207 people in South Korea thus far have been recorded as "re-positive"
- In order to investigate this phenomenon, the Korean CDC analyzed 25 patients who were on the mend from COVID19 by testing them for the virus
- In order to investigate this phenomenon, the Korean CDC analyzed 25 patients who were on the mend from COVID19 by testing them for the virus
- these were all patients who had been confirmed to have developed antibodies
- While the investigation is ongoing, the KCDC states that 12 out of these 25 patients still tested positive for the virus, even though they had all developed antibodies.
- While the investigation is ongoing, the KCDC states that 12 out of these 25 patients still tested positive for the virus, even though they had all developed antibodies.
- However, of these 12 "re-positive" test patients, the KCDC also extracted samples from their respiratory systems to test for contagiousness, and thus far the samples have not contained the virus, and indicates that there is a low probability of contagion.
- This is consistent with other tests run by the KCDC, which also showed that people who were released from quarantine after treatment could still test positive, but not be infectious.
- The KCDC currently surmises that the main reason for people testing "re-positive" is due to the amount of time the virus still lingers in the body, which is different for everyone.
- KCDC officials state that the results of the investigation may provide insights into the differences between the antibodies developed in response to COVID19, and which specific antibodies a future vaccine should induce the body to produce.
