Get a clear idea of the level of people already been infected.

Signs are emerging, that the timeline might be wrong. A positive test in France in December, a group of athletes in northern Italy, coming home from Wuhan in October. And now Choirs in the UK with symptoms looking a lot like this virus at the beginning of the year.
Had this virus been around in Europe for months before anyone realised the problem, it would explain the huge differences regarding the death toll in different countries.
While it was absolutely right, to use the available tests for infection for frontline workers, now we desperately need to check every single person for antibodies.
It will be costly. But the nation who gets this done fastest, will also have the fastest recovery.

Why the contribution is important

We can’t get this right with an incorrect timeline. We need to know the level of past infections in the general public. The first nation to get this right, will have a huge advantage in recovery and could support others.

by Elkie on May 10, 2020 at 09:57AM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.8
Based on: 15 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Ideas81 May 10, 2020 at 11:46

    We need to know how many people have been infected already

  • Posted by gw09garciachristine May 10, 2020 at 12:03

    Excellent and important point. My husband had a terrible flu that lasted 3 weeks (being in bed) in mid December...healthy 44 year old and never been off his work for anything.
    We are convinced it's a high possiblity he had Covid...no way of knowing now unless a reliable antibody test exists.

  • Posted by RH19 May 10, 2020 at 12:06

    This is no doubt a key factor for moving forward. We need everyone tested in order to know who has COVID-19 and crucially who has had it. This could free people up to get the country moving again.

  • Posted by Gorham May 10, 2020 at 12:15

    I think it extremely important to check for the Coronovirus in anyone with symptoms and that the symptom list needs to be broader and not just for cough and or temperature. Perhaps even more important is testing for asymptomatic carriers of the virus before e.g. family groups meet up. Antibody testing would be useful too but doesn't , as far as we know at present, guarantee long lasting immunity.

  • Posted by lynr May 10, 2020 at 12:25

    If half the population have already had the virus that would completely change the lockdown requirements. Shielding the vulnerable would be the main goal.

  • Posted by Ro2 May 10, 2020 at 14:31

    With hindsight, based on symptoms and hearing reports in the news from people who are confirmed cases, my wife and I are 90 per cent sure we had Covid-19 with probable date of infection around mid-December.

  • Posted by black54 May 10, 2020 at 19:26

    I agree because I have had suspicions that the virus was present in a group I was with back in january and also seemed to have some symptoms
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