Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion Thread

[Mnementh]

Hiku said:

haxxiy said:

It's doubtful reinfection would be anywhere as severe as first infection or as contagious, even if it can happen after a year or so like for the common cold. That has been the case for all diseases introduced through trade and colonization, and also the ones that caused previous pandemics. Plasma cell-mediated antibody aren't the only way the adaptive immune system works.

I can't say I've researched this in particular. But a friend of mine who got infected and survived, was told by her doctor that a second infection for her is more likely to be lethal due to the long lasting (permanent?) damage the first infection did to her body.

Yeah, there are two effects at work. A second infection might be lighter, as some immune response might have built. But COVID-19 also leaves lasting damage to the body of many infected and so far it is not clear how long the body will need to recover or even if the damage may become permanent. This makes any new infection (not only COVID) more risky. We could actually see more flu deaths this year, because of the damage done by COVID.