Implications of test characteristics and population seroprevalence on ‘immune passport’ strategies

Abstract

Social distancing and other community quarantine measures have slowed the spread of COVID-19 but have also contributed to an economic shutdown with immense cost and growing pressures to return people to work. Among various strategies, one is the use of “immune passports”, which would allow individuals with serological evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 to return to work. This is premised on the belief that antibodies confer sufficient immunity to prevent COVID-19 infection, and carries both ethical and scientific challenges.