The Covid pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives over the past couple of years – with lockdowns, self-isolation and vaccines becoming all too familiar, not to mention the possibility of actually getting the virus.
So far there have been over 11 million confirmed cases of Covid in the UK and around 147,000 deaths – with infections rising more steeply than ever in the wake of the new Omicron variant.
While millions across the world have now had a brush with Covid – with others having built up their immunity through the vaccines – there are still people who have never tested positive for the virus, with some new research suggesting that certain people may be more resistant to infection than others.
Just why do some people not get Covid – even if they are exposed to the virus?
Why do some people not get Covid?
First things first – as it stands, there is no official reason why some people might prove resistant to a Covid infection, even if they do end up being exposed to the virus through a close contact.
However, new research conducted recently by UCL might have shed some light on the matter.
They have suggested some people’s avoidance of Covid could be to do with the reaction from their T-cells – the white blood cells in our bodies which help us fight infections – and from previous exposure to other coronaviruses such as the common cold.
The research, which was published in the journal Nature in November, suggests that ‘memory T-Cells’ – which may have been generated in some people when fighting colds and the like – may be triggered when the Covid virus enters the body.
This leads to them ‘cleaning up’ the virus and clearing it from the body before it has the chance to start causing any damage.
This in turn means it does not stay in the system long enough to cause any symptoms or create antibodies – leading to a negative result on PCR or lateral flow tests.
‘Everyone has anecdotal evidence of people being exposed but not succumbing to infection,’ explained Leo Swadling, an immunologist at University College London and the lead author of the paper.
‘What we didn’t know is whether these individuals really did manage to completely avoid the virus or whether they naturally cleared the virus before it was detectable by routine tests.’
The study was carried out on 731 healthcare workers during the first wave of the pandemic – and the results showed that 58 of them did not test positive for Covid despite being in a high-risk setting.
However the research did show those people experienced a spike in T-cell activity, suggesting they may already have had ‘memory T-cells’ which cleared a Covid infection from their body.
It’s thought the research could be used to make new vaccines which target the T-cell instead of antibody response – which could potentially give longer-lasting protection.
Does this mean I won’t get Covid?
While all of this is promising news, it’s worth noting that whatever level of immunity you may have against Covid – even if you do fall into the above category of having never been infected despite exposure – that doesn’t mean you won’t get it at some point.
For one thing there is no way of knowing who might have the T-Cell reaction which could keep them safe from infection – it might be that you have just been lucky up to this point.
Some people may also have had the virus asymptomatically and not realised, while others may have mistaken it for another illness such as a cold or flu.
And of course other factors do come into play when it comes to avoiding a Covid infection, such as wearing face masks in indoor spaces, limiting your social contacts and regular handwashing – as well as making sure you are up to date with your vaccines and boosters.
A UKHSA spokesperson told metro.co.uk: ‘We welcome and continuously monitor studies of this type, that help us better understand how Covid-19 affects the immune system and can inform the development of vaccines and other treatments.
‘While the virus continues to spread rapidly, it’s important that we all do everything possible to protect ourselves and others.
‘The best way to do this is to come forwards for your first two doses of vaccine, or your booster jab, limiting contact with others where possible, washing hands regularly, wearing a face covering in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, and working from home if you can.’
Of course, if you do develop symptoms which could be Covid, you should always get a PCR test and self-isolate until you know the result.
The official symptoms according to the NHS are a new continous cough, a temperature and loss of taste and/or smell – although symptoms of the Omicron variant are reported to include a dry, scratchy throat, night sweats, mild muscle aches and fatigue.
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