Some infected with the novel coronavirus never develop symptoms.
But what researchers also found was that in around 40 to 60% of those who had never been exposed to COVID-19, their immune systems also had a strong reaction. The researchers said it’s possible that human bodies may “recognize” the novel coronavirus because of prior exposure to its close cousins — the coronavirus strains that cause the common cold.
“Immune reactivity may translate to different degrees of protection,” said Dr. Alessandro Sette, professor at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology and a lead author on the study, in a press release.
It’s possible, Sette said, that your prior infections with the common cold could give your immune system a boost, making it easier to fight off the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
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