COVID-19 reinfection: prolonged shedding or true reinfection?

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is underway and millions of people have been infected. A large number of patients with COVID-19 have recovered and been discharged. While a number of recovered patients test positive again or even have a recurrence of clinical symptoms. Some researchers believe that a positive retest is related to the long-term persistence of the virus in the body, although there is some evidence in favor of reinfection. In this study, we focus more on the possible reasons for positive retesting, antibody responses, and review of possible reinfection case reports.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• positive re-test
• prolonged shedding
• SARS-CoV-2
• true reinfection