COVID-19: WHO warns against issuance of “immunity passports”, as China says all Wuhan virus patients discharged

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned against countries issuing “immunity passports” as there is ‘no evidence’ that recovered coronavirus patients are protected from reinfection.

WHO in a statement issued on Saturday said that such a move could actually increase the transmission of the novel coronavirus as people who have recovered may ignore advice about taking standard precautions against the virus.

“Some governments have suggested that the detection of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could serve as the basis for an ‘immunity passport’ or ‘risk-free certificate’ that would enable individuals to travel or to return to work assuming that they are protected against re-infection,” the WHO said.

“There is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection.”

READ ALSO: COVID-19: Global death toll hits 200,000

Meanwhile, authorities in China say the city of Wuhan, where the global coronavirus pandemic began, now has no remaining cases of the infection in its hospitals.

“The latest news is that by April 26, the number of new coronavirus patients in Wuhan was at zero, thanks to the joint efforts of Wuhan and medical staff from around the country,” National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said at a briefing.

The city had reported 46,452 cases, 56 percent of the national total. It saw 3,869 fatalities, or 84 percent of China’s total.
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