COVID-19 Reinfections Are a Thing: Here’s What We Know So Far | SciShow News | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Repeated infections of COVID-19 are possible, but initial infections may still provide some level of protection.

Key Insights

• ⌛ Some viruses offer one-time immunity, while others can result in reinfections.
• 💼 Reinfections of COVID-19 have been reported, but the severity and contagiousness of these cases are still uncertain.
• 🧑 The term "reinfection" can be misleading, as it does not always imply that a person had the disease twice.
• 🙂 Researchers have found cases where individuals were reinfected with a slightly different strain of the virus, indicating true reinfections.
• ❓ People who have had COVID-19 should continue to follow preventive measures to protect themselves and others.
• 👨‍🔬 More research is needed to determine the frequency of reinfections and whether prior infections provide long-term immunity.
• ❓ Silent reinfections, where individuals are reinfected but remain asymptomatic, could contribute to the spread of the disease.

Transcript

This episode was shot on September 15th, 2020. If we have any updates to share, we’ll include them in a pinned comment. And, as always, you can find the most recent COVID-19-related episodes in our playlist linked in the description. [ intro ] One of the big questions in this pandemic has been whether or not getting COVID-19 protects a person from ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Can you get COVID-19 more than once?

Yes, reports suggest that reinfections of COVID-19 can occur. However, it is important to differentiate between reinfections and reactivation, where the virus hides and then replicates again.

Q: Do reinfections of COVID-19 have different symptoms?

In some cases, individuals who experienced reinfections showed no symptoms the second time around. However, there have been instances where the second infection led to a more severe case, similar to what happens with certain dengue viruses.

Q: Can people spread the virus during a reinfection?

It is unclear if individuals who were reinfected but asymptomatic can still spread the virus. Silent reinfections could potentially contribute to the spread of the disease.

Q: Does a prior infection provide protection against future infections?

While some cases suggest that a first infection can provide some level of protection, other cases indicate that prior infections may not always confer immunity. More research is needed to determine the prevalence and outcomes of reinfections.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• People have been wondering if getting COVID-19 protects them from getting it again, similar to other viruses like measles. Some viruses offer one-time immunity while others can result in reinfections.

• Reinfections refer to instances when a person gets the same virus twice, but it doesn't necessarily mean they had the disease twice.

• Studies have shown that some individuals have experienced reinfections of COVID-19, but the severity and contagiousness of these reinfections are still unclear.