WHO warns there is ‘no proof’ of coronavirus immunity as medics say ‘immunity passports’ could risk second wave
THE World Health Organisation today warned there is "no proof" of coronavirus immunity as medics warned 'risk-free certificates' could risk a second wave of the virus.
WHO warned coronavirus immunity passports could make the pandemic worse as patients who had recovered once could ignore health advice - increasing the deadly bug's spread.
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Earlier this month, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said immunity wristbands were being considered once the science was clearer.
And the WHO overnight warned: "At this point in the pandemic, there is not enough evidence about the effectiveness of antibody-mediated immunity to guarantee the accuracy of an 'immunity passport' or 'risk-free certificate'.
"People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice.
"The use of such certificates may therefore increase the risks of continued transmission."
They further warned inaccurate tests could falsely categorise people - having "serious consequences" when it came to the control of the virus.
They said: "The first is that they may falsely label people who have been infected as negative, and the second is that people who have not been infected are falsely labelled as positive."
It comes after Health Sec Hancock had said Brits could get "immunity wristbands" or certificates to prove they can't carry or catch coronavirus once the lockdown is over.
He said: "When the science is good enough to understand the immunity that people have after having had the disease, then we are looking at introducing something like an immunity certificate or maybe a wristband that says 'I’ve had it and I’m immune and I can’t pass it on and I’m highly unlikely to catch it’.
"And we think we will be able to get there but as of today, the scientists are not confident enough in understanding the progress of the disease after people have got through it like I have."
The coronavirus death toll in the UK yesterday reached more than 19,500.
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At the time, Downing Street also said they would be looking closely at how well immunity certificates work in other countries and consider rolling them out in the UK.
The PM's spokesman said: "It is is something which has been discussed in other countries.
"We will look at strategies followed elsewhere. If there are things that would be helpful in the UK, we will of course consider them."
And today a Treasury proposal suggested Brits could go back to work in "coronavirus-secure" offices from mid-May under post-lockdown plans.
plans to keep workplaces free from the killer virus would include distancing and free-slowing sanitiser.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel had previously been planning on issuing immunity certificates as researchers have begun testing 100,000 people a day for the disease.
The researchers will use antibodies tests which can tell if someone has already had COVID-19 and issue documentation to people to confirm their status.
Immunity certificates would help determine when lockdowns could be lifted, and schools re-opened.
And The Madrid Association of Hoteliers (AEHM) said they were looking into a 'Covid-19 Free Hotel’ certification, which would guarantee both guests and staff don't have the virus.
How this would work has not been explained, but guests of the hotel will likely have to be able to prove they do not have coronavirus to stay.
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Meanwhile, Brits appeared to be cracking under the strain of the lockdown, with traffic on the roads creeping up by 10 per cent.
Drivers were seen queuing at a Costa Coffee in Mansfield, hundreds of people flocked to the seafront in Hove, East Sussex, shoppers gathered at a B&M in Chelmsford, Essex, and people were seen drinking on Hampstead Heath in London.
And Brits were last night warned that the coronavirus lockdown won't be lifted if they flout rules.
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