A lack of immunity could lead to a second wave of COVID-19 infections in China, according to the country’s senior medical adviser.
“Herd immunity” would happen when enough of a population has become immune to the disease to prevent it from spreading, but questions remain about how long that immunity would last.
The first case of the coronavirus disease was found in China, and lockdowns were enforced starting in late January.
Restrictions have since eased, with life in the country resuming to some degree of normality.
China could be hit with a second wave of the coronavirus disease as lockdowns in the nation are slowly eased.
Dr. Zhong Nanshan, a leading Chinese epidemiologist and the country’s senior medical adviser, told CNN Saturday that a lack of immunity among Chinese residents could be a cause for concern in spurring another wave of infections.
“The majority of … Chinese at the moment are still susceptible of the Covid-19 infection, because (of) a lack of immunity,” Zhong told CNN. “We are facing (a) big challenge, it’s not better than the foreign countries I think at the moment.”
The comment comes as some US states are either weighing the prospect of easing lockdown restrictions or altogether reopening businesses — despite some failing to see the recommended 14-day decline in confirmed cases before doing so.
www.businessinsider.com/lack-of-immunity-could-lead-second-wave-coronavirus-china-2020-5