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SEVERAL countries are slowly starting to reopen their borders for tourist visits, including Iceland, and even that country allows people who have contracted COVID-19 to enter without having to be tested.
Iceland was among the first countries to reopen its borders to visitors in June. They also initially imposed a COVID-19 test and only those with negative results were allowed to enter.
After entering phase 2 in August, Iceland then made new regulations, namely tourists can choose to quarantine for 14 days for the owner of a positive test result or take the test on arrival, quarantine for five days then test again.
However, starting December 10, every traveler arriving from the European Economic Area (EEA) can present documents that they have been infected with COVID-19 and have recovered can pass the test on arrival and be free from quarantine.
This of course has received rejection from experts, especially many who believe that if you have been exposed to the corona virus, the body will immediately fight it because it already has antibodies so it will not be exposed a second time. Yet according to experts, how long this immune system can last has not been proven.
“Without conclusive data on the risk of reinfection, Iceland should not rely on previous infections that provide immunity,” said Dr Danielle C Ompad, dean at the NYU School of Global Public Health.
The same thing was stated by Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. According to Dr. Schaffner has yet to determine how long the immune system can fight COVID-19 infection.
“We really don’t know for sure how long an antibody can re-protect against infection, how long it will last after you recover from the virus. Even the tests being made to determine immunity are new and may not be completely accurate,” said Dr. Schaffner. [antaranews/photo special]
