South Korean scientists conclude
people cannot be infected with
coronavirus more than once
Researchers in South Korea say it is impossible for the novel coronavirus to
reinfect humans.
Multiple tests that ostensibly showed 260 patients becoming reinfected were the result
of false-positive testing, according to the Korea Herald.
“The process in which COVID-19 produces a new virus takes place only in host cells
and does not infiltrate the nucleus. This means it does not cause chronic infection or
recurrence,” said Dr. Oh Myoung-don, a Seoul National University hospital doctor,
during a Thursday press conference.
Testing kits could reportedly not distinguish between live traces of the virus and the RNA
of the dead virus, according to Oh.
“PCR testing that amplifies genetics of the virus is used in Korea to test COVID-19,
and relapse cases are due to technical limits of the PCR testing," he said.
Last week, the World Health Organization warned against attempting to develop
"herd immunity" to the virus, saying there is no evidence catching the virus could
protect people from future infections.
“There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from Covid-19
and have antibodies are protected from a second infection,” the WHO said in an
April 24 statement.
More than 3.2 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus globally. Of those,
more than 233,000 have died from it, and more than 986,000 have recovered.
The United States has seen at least 1 million confirmed cases, with more than 62,000
deaths and nearly 126,000 reported recoveries. More than 6.2 million people have been
tested for the virus, according to the latest reading of the Johns Hopkins University tracke
