Reinfection means a person was infected once, recovered, then later is infected again. Can you get Covid twice? Based on how much data is presently known from similar viruses, some reinfections are expected. There were reports of people catching multiple coronavirus infections in a short space of time.
However, the scientific consensus shows that testing was at fault, as patients could’ve been incorrectly informed that they were free of the virus. PHE’s ongoing study on immunity in healthcare workers found 44 potential re-infections in a group of 6,614 people who previously were infected by the virus. The research concluded that reinfection is relatively uncommon, yet it could possibly happen, people should continue to follow current guidelines, despite having antibodies or not. Genome sequencing of the virus helps to prove if you’ve caught it twice as the virus strains might be different.
Can you get Covid twice even if you gain immunity?
The immune system is the body’s defense against infections, and it comes in two parts. The first is always raring to go and leaps into action as soon as it detects any foreign invader in the body known as the innate immune response. This system, however, is not specific to coronavirus. It will not learn and won’t give you immunity to the virus.
You need the adaptive immune response. This includes the cells that produce required antibodies that can stick to the virus in order to put an end to it.
How long does Immunity stay?
Public Health England shows most people who have had the virus once before are safe and won’t be reinfected by it again for five months at the minimum. The immune system’s memory is rather like our own, it remembers some infections clearly, nevertheless, also has a habit of forgetting others.
People who have already had Covid-19, and those who don’t should get a vaccine when offered one. Taking the vaccine builds immunity, immunity will affect how deadly the effect of the virus is. Stay safe, get vaccinated, yet have your masks on. If you liked this article (or if it helped at all), please leave us a comment below or share it with friends, so they can also know if you can get reinfected by Covid.
