How quickly can you catch covid-19 again if you have already had it?
Since omicron became the dominant coronavirus variant, reinfections are on the rise – but it is unclear how long people can expect to be protected between bouts of covid-19
Health
9 May 2022
A man wearing a protective mask – but how long does a prior covid-19 infection protect someone from reinfection?
Jorge Mantilla/NurPhoto/Getty Images
As the omicron variant of the coronavirus continues to spread, many people who have already contracted the virus once are picking it up again. But a key question remains unresolved: for how long after a covid-19 infection are people likely to be protected from reinfection?
A lot hinges on the answer, as new omicron subvariants called BA.4 and BA.5 are on the rise in South Africa. It is still unclear if this will …
