Getting exposed to another coronavirus can help you fight COVID-19, study says

Getting sick from a harmless coronavirus may protect you from COVID-19, researchers at the University of Zurich recently found.

A team of researchers found that antibody responses from previous coronavirus infections can help create immunity to COVID-19.

• “People who have had strong immune responses to other human coronaviruses also have some protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection,” said Alexandra Trkola, head of the Institute of Medical Virology at the university, according to SciTechDaily.

The researchers reviewed antibody levels from people sick from coronaviruses before SARS-CoV-2 was around and compared them to samples taken from people infected with COVID-19.

• “Our study shows that a strong antibody response to human coronaviruses increases the level of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. So someone who has gained immunity to harmless coronaviruses is therefore also better protected against severe SARS-CoV-2 infections,” Trkola said, per SciTechDaily.