Frequently Asked Question: Can one get Coronavirus infection twice?

*Scientists don’t know for sure yet, but they believe it is unlikely

*People possibly suffering from same illness, or tests detected remnants of original infection ─Report

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Well-being specialists think that people who had COVID-19 will have some immunity against a repeat infection with the virus.

However, researchers don’t know how much protection or how long it would last, according to agency report.

There have been reports of people testing positive for the virus weeks after they were believed to have recovered, leading some to think they may have been re-infected.

More likely, experts say people were suffering from the same illness or the tests detected remnants of the original infection.

There’s also the chance tests could have been false positives, report stated.

Scientists say there has been no documented instance of a patient spreading the virus to others after re-testing positive.

It is noted that with similar viruses, studies have shown that people could fall sick again three months to a year after their first infections.

It’s still too early to know whether that’s also possible with the coronavirus.

According to Dr. Philip Landrigan, Director of global public health programme at Boston College, “it’s very much emerging science.”

It was learnt a minor United States study published recently also discovered that the antibodies that fight the novel Coronavirus may only last a few months in people with mild illness, suggesting people could become susceptible again.

But antibodies aren’t the only defence against a virus, and the other parts of the immune system could also help to provide protection.

Settling the question of whether reinfection is possible is important. If it can occur, that could undermine the idea of “immunity passports” for returning back to workplaces. And it would not bode well for hopes of getting a long-lasting vaccine, report said.