Yes there is a chance you can catch COVID-19 twice. Scientists are still gathering information of treatment, vaccination and immunity against the novel coronavirus. But will antibodies grant lifelong immunity, or will they only last for a limited about of time? Experts consider whether herd immunity is even possible.
Cases of reinfection of COVID-19 are rare, but reports of second infections are steadily increasing. Those that have gotten the infection twice state that it is worse the second time around. After recovering from COVID-19 there is typically a high antibody count in the immune system. However, a small study states that the antibody count diminishes just a number of weeks. This casts doubt on if herd immunity is event possible (as experts study Sweden’s declining virus landscape, and the UK experiment resulted in a disaster). With so much uncertainty around the topic, this is what scientists do know – it has been medically proven with data that face masks, face shields, hand-washing, physical distancing, cleaning, and disinfection prevents the spread of viruses such as the current novel coronavirus. Be smart – protect yourself!
VOX: My patient caught Covid-19 twice. So long to herd immunity hopes?
