Coronavirus Survivors: Test Driving Immunity After Recovering in the U.S. – The New York Times

People have understood for a long time that surviving an acute infection provides immunity, said Michael Oldstone, an emeritus professor of virology and immunology at Scripps Research Institute, and author of the book Viruses, Plagues and History.

That history, though, does not quell all the questions now in the heads of those convalescing from the new coronavirus. On Facebook groups like Survivor Corps, on their doctors voice mail, in messages to reporters, they ask questions that have no easy answers.

When is it safe to go out? What does it mean that the fever is gone but taste and smell have not returned? Is it OK to hug ones grandmother? Does a positive antibody test guarantee immunity?

Some of the confusion has been exacerbated by a continued shortage of testing. And some of the urgency is fueled by the stigma now associated with being out and about. Walter Lamkin, 69, general counsel for a company in St. Louis, Mo., tested positive in March and was cleared by the St. Louis County public health department in early April.

I cant infect anyone and I cant be infected, he said.

But as the designated grocery shopper for his extended family, people are judging me, Mr. Lamkin said, and wondering whether he should be out. Unless I get a negative test, I cant answer that question.

But he has been told that he cannot get retested to confirm that he no longer has the virus because tests are reserved for people with symptoms.

OK, but if no one will test you, what are you supposed to do? he asked.

The thing to do, the thing that throngs of Covid-19 survivors are uniformly eager to do, it seems, is participate in antibody studies.

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Coronavirus Survivors: Test Driving Immunity After Recovering in the U.S. - The New York Times