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Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

nytimes.com

21–30 of 72 posts

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#21

It has been said that there is some likelihood that exposure to a previous Coronavirus made some people partially resistant to Covid-19. Would that mean that there is a chance that some people test positive for Covid-19 antibodies due to a different strain of Coronavirus?

You are probably talking about how previous coronavirus exposure seems to give some people some level of T-cell protection against SARS-CoV-2. T-cells are a different part of the immune system from immunoglobulin proteins, which is what these antibody tests measure. So it's more likely that those people would show up as a negative on this test because they wouldn't have the right immunoglobulins in their blood.

It's also possible that some people are fighting off COVID via a T-Cell response while not developing significant immunoglobulins or that immunoglobulin levels fade quickly while T-Cells don't. Those people can also test negative for immunoglobulin antibodies despite fighting off the disease.

So it's actually more likely that these tests are significantly under counting exposed people in total. But these tests aren't perfect and for any specific person, they could give you a false positive or a false negative result.

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#22
post #5
post #3

So in those 50% antibody areas in this unethical experiment we gain the knowledge, if herd immunity is possible, I guess. Or - if it's like the flu - USA just gradually weeds out everyone that can't handle this specific disease while still rotating seasonal waves for everyone else.

You seem skeptical about herd immunity being a thing. This video discusses studies showing that immunity should be long lasting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Z6wdu1eI0&t=270s

> the antibodies might not last for more than three or four months

He says a few seconds into your timestamp. Thank you for trying to soothe my thoughts. But now I'm even more concerned. Wouldn't that render a vaccine pretty useless if it's gone after 4 months?

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#23

It has been said that there is some likelihood that exposure to a previous Coronavirus made some people partially resistant to Covid-19. Would that mean that there is a chance that some people test positive for Covid-19 antibodies due to a different strain of Coronavirus?

I don't think so. Antibodies are pretty specific. However it's possible and there is some data to suggest that some people have T-Cell level immunity to SARS-Cov-2 that was likely induced by exposure to an earlier coronavirus.

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#24
post #2

NYC's Covid data repository[1] has more data in case anybody wants to play around with it. Happy that NYC committed to Open Data[2] initiatives in previous years[3]. [1] https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-data.page [2] https://opendata.cityofnewyork.us/ [3] https://datasmart.ash.harvard.edu/news/article/new-york-city...

I’m getting a paywall on NYT article. But my first thought is, I bet this correlates strongly to property values/density. I don’t know how to build that viz but if anyone is bored with the know how please post it.

https://archive.vn/czNKW

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#25

As if this wasn't all confusing enough, the worst hit area is named Corona: "The hardest hit ZIP code in the city — 11368 — was the one in Corona, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood..."

That is a co-incidence due the name Corona meaning crown in Latin as well as Spanish along with the zip code being populated with folks presumably in sectors where WFH is not possible.

"From corona (“crown-like circle of light appearing around the sun”) +‎ virus.[1][2] Corona is derived from Latin corōna (“garland, wreath; crown”), from Ancient Greek κορώνη (korṓnē, “something curved; curved stern of a ship; end, point, tip”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to bend, turn”). The name refers to the characteristic appearance of its virions by electron microscopy, which have a fringe of surface projections creating an image reminiscent of a solar corona.[3] Compare the former genus name Coronavirus."

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/coronavirus#Etymology

https://www.unitedstateszipcodes.org/11368/

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#26
post #2

NYC's Covid data repository[1] has more data in case anybody wants to play around with it. Happy that NYC committed to Open Data[2] initiatives in previous years[3]. [1] https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/covid/covid-19-data.page [2] https://opendata.cityofnewyork.us/ [3] https://datasmart.ash.harvard.edu/news/article/new-york-city...

I’m getting a paywall on NYT article. But my first thought is, I bet this correlates strongly to property values/density. I don’t know how to build that viz but if anyone is bored with the know how please post it.

>>I’m getting a paywall on NYT article.

I wasn't the OP but that was my underlying motivation linking to the direct data repository. The good news is that NYC provides basic visualizations across zipcodes and boroughs, and one of the visualizations allows for a breakdown by "poverty" level.

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#27
post #22
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You seem skeptical about herd immunity being a thing. This video discusses studies showing that immunity should be long lasting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Z6wdu1eI0&t=270s

> the antibodies might not last for more than three or four months He says a few seconds into your timestamp. Thank you for trying to soothe my thoughts. But now I'm even more concerned. Wouldn't that render a vaccine pretty useless if it's gone after 4 months?

Not really if you give it to risk groups and nursing home staff during flu season you can probably cut the waves alot.

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#28
post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or a data input mistake.

> Or a data input mistake. It's not - Corona Park and Elmhurst were the two hardest-hit neighborhoods from near the very beginning.

Can confirm that Corona is an actual place in the Queens borough of New York City.

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#29
post #22
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You seem skeptical about herd immunity being a thing. This video discusses studies showing that immunity should be long lasting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5Z6wdu1eI0&t=270s

> the antibodies might not last for more than three or four months He says a few seconds into your timestamp. Thank you for trying to soothe my thoughts. But now I'm even more concerned. Wouldn't that render a vaccine pretty useless if it's gone after 4 months?

It's believed that it'll persist through what's known as T-cell immunity, where your body doesn't have antibodies just hanging around but can produce them much more quickly in response to an infection. So the vaccine should still be effective in the long term at reducing the impact of the disease.

If you're thinking of the vaccine as a tool to ensure people can't get infected at all, then yeah, it won't be useful for that purpose. The goal isn't to eradicate the virus, just to get it under control so it's not such a huge public health concern.

Re: Antibody tests show what parts of NYC were hit hardest

#30
post #9

As if this wasn't all confusing enough, the worst hit area is named Corona: "The hardest hit ZIP code in the city — 11368 — was the one in Corona, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood..."

Like we needed any more proof that we live in a simulation.

Ha ha, the machine has its quirks.
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