Coronavirus Disease in South Korea: Antibody Testing from the Perspective of Effective Quarantine Measures

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which began in December 2019, spread rapidly across Asian countries in January and February 2020 and again after March 2020. COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is characterized by fever, cough, and dyspnea. On January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Quarantine authorities are constantly working to prevent the spread of COVID-19. One of the control measures is preparing for national antibody testing, as another wave of infection is expected to occur in the fall of 2021. There are three reasons for antibody testing from a prevention perspective. First, it can identify people with asymptomatic infection. Second, it can detect whether neutralizing antibodies are produced in individuals who have already been infected. Third, it can confirm collective immunity at a community or population level. Considering the lack of effective antiviral drugs or vaccines, the strategy of implementing an effective antibody testing program is an important control measure to minimize the damage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.