Yeah, I keep getting stuck on the early test positivity stats in the US. Over the last two weeks, only the most urgent cases were getting tested. But even then, something like 92 - 98% of tests were negative. There are a lot of illnesses out there that are presenting as close enough to COVID to concern health workers, even when it's not COVID.

People don't talk about it much yet, but we really need an immunity test to determine if someone has antibodies.

We are also not 100% certain that having the virus once grants immunity. People have tested positive again after appearing to make a full recovery. While these results are probably better explained by remaining infected and becoming asymptomatic for a period then getting symptoms again, we can’t yet rule out the possibility of reinfection to my knowledge. https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-13/china-...

I've heard this before and it's the most troubling. Humans have adaptive immune systems. When our bodies first encounter a virus and a while blood cell successfully attaches too and breaks down a virus, it should either replicate or release the right activator proteins that will aid in breaking down the virus.

Vaccines are all about tricking our immune system into preparing those specific antibodies before an infection occurs, so it can stop it quickly. If reinfection is true, what does that say about the nature of this virus and how difficult it is to create a vaccine? Are there other viruses that reinfect like this?

I've also heard it, but I think we need more data.

If true, it would go against all priors for how humans build immunity to viruses - especially coronavirus (common cold).

There may be a time limit to immunity, but having none at all after recovery would be rare indeed.

Without significant evidence (more than one somewhat anecdotal case of re-emergence), there's little reason to assume the body doesn't "remember" the virus after recovery with antibodies.

Seems like unnecessary FUD to spread that idea around without more evidence.

> especially coronavirus (common cold).

Remember, coronavirus are ~25% of colds. There are many other families (like rhinovirues), that cause what we think of as the cold.

> If true, it would go against all priors for how humans build immunity to viruses - especially coronavirus (common cold).

Another possible implication is that there could be multiple strains in circulation, not that the first strain wasn’t immunized against.

You are totally right that we need more evidence and this is very unlikely to be happening. But, I am trying to convince OP to continue to be cautious even if they appear to have recovered, both for themselves and for others. It seems reasonable to be cautious. People have presented apparent recovery only to go on to appear infected again.

I am OP, and I'm definitely going to remain cautious. I appreciate your concern.

I will continue self-quarantine for another couple weeks, and will definitely continue social-distancing measures etc. etc. after that.