Covid-19 antibody test could be SA’s secret weapon amid fears of second wave

Some researchers believe that because the country went into early lockdown, it might be spared that second surge. Others think it is going to be a slow burn rate of infections that will be with us for at least the next three years.

Antibody tests for Covid-19 can help researchers and health professionals better prepare and work out just who is vulnerable to the disease. In New York, this figure stood at 14%. By Thursday night, South Africa had just over 618 000 cases, however researchers believe that the real infection rate could be 10 times higher.

“It really doesn’t help you, all it tells you is that you have had it recently. It decays, it becomes positive way too late, and by that time you are either dead or better.”

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