Our understanding of where we are regarding Covid-19 immunity and infection is always changing. New findings coming to light means there is the need for new research. There could be light at the end of the tunnel, but we need to be rigorous and scientific in our approach before rushing to any conclusions.
A new study -- with the sample taken from people previously diagnosed with Covid-19 -- has found that 95% of patients with Covid symptoms developed antibodies, while antibodies were detected in 45% of asymptomatic patients.
Furthermore, another study suggested that while the first cases of coronavirus in Bangladesh were confirmed on March 8 this year, there is evidence that it entered the country as early as mid-February, changing the timeline for the spread.
While these latest revelations appear to be positive news, now the need of the hour is to follow up with large-scale randomized testing in Dhaka city as well as the rest of the country to get a full and clear picture of where we stand regarding the prevalence of the virus in the population.
It is a possibility that a large proportion of people in Bangladesh have developed antibodies. If so, this would be a major finding, that suggests we could be on our way to herd immunity, considering that the prevalence of antibodies in over 60% of the population is considered herd immunity.
We must not, however, get complacent. Only with more randomized testing, and larger sample sizes, can we hope to get a clearer picture of where we stand, and move forward accordingly.
