Coronavirus reinfection – what it actually means, and why you shouldn’t panic | Zania Stamataki for The Conversation

Naturally, people are worried about what the first confirmed case of reinfection means for the pandemic

Scientists in Hong Kong have reported the first confirmed case of reinfection with the coronavirus that causes Covid-19, reportedly backed up by genetic sequences of the two episodes of the 33-year-old man’s infections in March and in August 2020. Naturally, people are worried what this could mean for our chances of resolving the pandemic. Here’s why they shouldn’t worry.

Nearly nine months after the first infection with the novel coronavirus, we have very poor evidence for reinfection. However, virologists understand that reinfection with coronaviruses is common, and immunologists are working hard to determine how long the hallmarks of protective immunity will last in recovered patients.

Continue reading...

from World news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3hyxnqi