Natural Immunity to COVID-19 Detected at 20 Months After Infection: Study

This undated electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2, yellow, emerging from the surface of cells, blue/pink, cultured in a laboratory. Courtesy of NIAID-RML

Protection against COVID-19 among the recovered was detected by researchers at 20 months post-infection, adding to the body of evidence that such protection, known as natural immunity, is long-lasting.

Researchers found antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) in 99 percent of study participants who had tested positive for COVID-19, with some having had the illness as long as 20 months prior.