Reinfection of the virus that causes COVID-19

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (U.S.). Division of Viral Diseases.
• Description:
  Updated Oct. 27, 2020
  
  Confirmed and suspected cases of reinfection of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been reported, but remain rare​.​
  
  In general, reinfection means a person was infected (got sick) once, recovered, and then later became infected again. Based on what we know from similar viruses, some reinfections are expected. We are still learning more about the virus that causes COVID-19. Ongoing COVID-19 studies will help us understand:
  
  • How likely is reinfection
  
  • How often reinfection occurs
  
  • How soon after the first infection can reinfection take place
  
  • How severe are cases of reinfection
  
  • Who might be at higher risk for reinfection
  
  • What reinfection means for a person’s immunity
  
  • If a person is able to spread COVID-19 to other people when reinfected
  
  
• Subjects:
  Betacoronavirus Communicable Disease Control Coronavirus Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology Coronavirus Infections/transmission COVID-19 Disease Outbreaks Disease Susceptibility Humans Incidence Pandemics Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology Pneumonia, Viral/transmission Reinfection

  More +
• Document Type:
  Webpage
• Collection(s):
  Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:a3107fd08f77a5f0d5f6bcfa33abbe1af62edec044bfe669b0126ab5f9afcb0e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/96073/cdc_96073_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 166.77 KB ]