Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 protect against re-infection during outbreaks in care homes, September and October 2020

Two London care homes experienced a second COVID-19 outbreak, with 29/209 (13.9%) SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR-positive cases (16/103 residents, 13/106 staff). In those with prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure, 1/88 (1.1%) individuals (antibody positive: 87; RT-PCR-positive: 1) became PCR-positive compared with 22/73 (30.1%) with confirmed seronegative status. After four months protection offered by prior infection against re-infection was 96.2% (95% confidence interval (CI): 72.7–99.5%) using risk ratios from comparison of proportions and 96.1% (95% CI: 78.8–99.3%) using a penalised logistic regression model.

Source: Eurosurveillance - February 4, 2021 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Anna Jeffery-Smith, Nalini Iyanger, Sarah V Williams, J Yimmy Chow, Felicity Aiano, Katja Hoschler, Angie Lackenby, Joanna Ellis, Steven Platt, Shahjahan Miah, Kevin Brown, Gayatri Amirthalingam, Monika Patel, Mary E Ramsay, Robin Gopal, Andre Charlett, S Source Type: research