Boston City Councilor tests positive for COVID-19 antibodies

BOSTON — The picture below shows Boston City Councilwoman Michelle Wu getting a nasal swab for COVID-19. Wu said it wasn’t pleasant, but it was critically important.

Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu tests positive for COVID-19 antibodies Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu says she has tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies (Michelle Wu)

“To have has some results come back and get some information was incredibly revealing to me,” she said.

Wu was one of the Roslindale residents randomly selected for Mass General Hospital’s COVID-19 antibody study. One thousand asymptomatic residents in three of Boston’s hardest-hit neighborhoods, Roslindale, East Boston and areas of Dorchester, were tested to see whether they have coronavirus and if they have coronavirus antibodies. The goal was to test people who don’t have any symptoms, like Wu, to see how many could be potential carriers.

“It was really a flood of all different emotions at the same time. Relief the test for coronavirus was negative, and a little bit of shock and relief that antibody was positive,” Wu said via FaceTime from her home.

Wu said she received her results Sunday night and was informed she tested positive for antibodies. That means she was most likely infected at some point without knowing it and because of that, she said physical distancing, wearing face coverings and testing are crucial since anyone can get the virus and spread it without even showing symptoms.

“I think this was really a shock to realize that I may have, even with everything, come in contact with the virus and hopefully be on the other side of it,” she said.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 25% of people infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic.

Personal update: I was one of the Roslindale residents randomly selected for the MGH #COVID19 antibody study last week. Got my test results last night: negative for coronavirus & positive for antibodies—meaning I was most likely infected at some point without knowing it. pic.twitter.com/rVUkfUnZTu
— Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@wutrain) May 4, 2020