Jamaica to start antibody tests for COVID-19

Jamaica will soon start administering antibody tests for the novel coronavirus.

An antibody test can indicate if someone has had a previous infection. Medical experts have argued that people who have been exposed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, may have developed antibodies to the virus, which is what the tests look for.

However, the Centers for Disease Control in the United States of America said, "We do not know yet if having antibodies to the virus can protect someone from getting infected with the virus again, or how long that protection might last".

"We are moving to another phase where the antibody testing, another type of test, will eventually be introduced into the population and the discussions are now taking place at the level of the ministry how these tests will be administered," Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said.

Jamaica has a total of 471 confirmed coronavirus cases. Tufton on Monday said there were two new cases, which is the lowest increase in weeks.