Coronavirus: Abu Dhabi launches pioneering study on residents' Covid-19 immunity

A pioneering study is under way in Abu Dhabi to establish residents' immunity against Covid-19 and control the spread of the disease in the UAE.

Health experts have started collecting random samples from residents and Emiratis to run serology tests, which look for antibodies in the blood.

Abu Dhabi Media Office outlined the aims of the study, which it said is the first of its kind in the UAE and in the region, on Twitter on Tuesday evening.

.@adphc_ae, in collaboration with @UAEU_NEWS, @SEHAHealth, and @Mubadala National Reference Laboratory, is conducting research for a study targeting all residents of Abu Dhabi emirate to help understand their immunity against Covid-19 and control its spread. pic.twitter.com/gLYncxd1zp

- ???? ?????? ???????? (@admediaoffice) July 28, 2020

Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, in collaboration with United Arab Emirates University, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) and Mubadala National Reference Company, is conducting the study, which began on July 19 and is due to end on August 16.

The study's test aims to ascertain if an individual has previously had Covid-19, regardless of how severe the symptoms were.

Its full objectives are as follows:

- Understand the impact of the pandemic on the community in general.

- Check infection levels, as well as percentages of those infected who developed sufficient immunity.

- Identify the percentage of the population who have Covid-19 antibodies over a specific time frame.

- Identify the percentage of infected people or patients who had the virus without showing any symptoms.