COVID-19: How long are you protected People who have had COVID are likely to be protected from reinfection for at least 5 months and have a similar defence to someone who's been vaccinated, according to a UK study. But does it mean those who have recovered are no longer a risk to others? And could the protection last any longer? Here's what you need to know.
What does it mean for the chances of contracting the virus again? If all 44 cases are assumed to be confirmed reinfections, the protection rate is 83% compared with those who’ve not had it before. If only the two “probable” cases are considered, the rate would be 99%, but researchers are going with the headline figure of 83%.
Who did the study follow and is it reliable? However, PHE said in a statement online more work is going on to clarify this range. More than 20,000 healthcare workers from 102 NHS trusts across the country, including How long does the protection last? frontline staff, have been tested since June by the Public Health England (PHE) Siren study. It appears to be at least five months, on average, from first getting sick. Some 6,614 of them tested positive for antibodies at the start of the research, sugThe analysis of the results was done towards gesting they'd had the virus previously in the the end of 2020, and the study is still first wave. following the participants to see if it lasts longer. It's a big group of people so its results are valuable - and the study is still ongoing. It means people infected in the first wave last spring could now be at risk of getting How many people contracted COVID a coronavirus again. second time? The study’s lead, Professor Susan Hopkins, There were only 44 potential reinfections from warned the protection “is not total and we do the 6,000-plus found to have antibodies. not yet know how long [it] lasts”. Two of them were deemed “probable” cases, while 42 were “possible”, based on the evidence available.
18
Despite the uncertainties, Dr Julian Tang a clinical virologist - said in a statement online the results were still “useful and reassuring news” for medics on the frontline.
