189 CMAAO CORONA FACTS and MYTH COVID CDC Immunity Three Months

 

189 CMAAO CORONA FACTS and MYTH COVID CDC Immunity Three Months

 

Dr K Aggarwal

President CMAAO

 

1055:

People infected with COVID-19 do not necessarily have immunity to reinfection for three months said CDC.

While people can continue to test positive for SARS-CoV-2 for up to three months after diagnosis and not be infectious to others, that does not imply that infection confers immunity for that period.

Earlier the confusion stemmed from an August 3 update to CDC's isolation guidance.

Who needs to quarantine?

People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19 -- excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.

These statements could be read as suggesting that those recovering from COVID-19 will likely be safe from reinfection for three months even with close exposure to infected people. Media reports took this as a tacit acknowledgment of immunity from the agency.

Friday's CDC statement chided the media for misinterpreting its guidance, which was about retesting, not immunity.

The latest data simply suggests that retesting someone in the 3 months following initial infection is not necessary unless that person is exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 and the symptoms cannot be associated with another illness.

In fact, the CDC went so far as to update, which now says explicitly, "We do not know if someone can be re-infected with COVID-19."

The agency added that people who were previously infected may continue to have "low levels of virus in their body for up to 3 months," which could explain positive test results even if they recovered from the virus.

The agency concluded the duration of infection in most people is no longer than 10 days following symptom onset, and no more than 20 days in people with severe illness or those who are "severely immunocompromised,"

The CDC added there are no confirmed reports of reinfection within 3 months of initial infection.

The guidance still recommends that if those recovering from the virus come into contact with a positive case and have new symptoms, they should isolate themselves, contact their healthcare provider and possibly be retested.

Everyone, including those recovering from COVID-19, should continue to follow the recommended non-pharmaceutical interventions, including social distancing, wearing a face mask in public, and washing their hands.

In the statement, the CDC reiterated that people who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for at least 10 days after symptom onset and until 24 hours after their fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing medications.

 

Updated Isolation Guidance Does Not Imply Immunity to COVID-19

Media Statement

For Immediate Release: Friday, August 14, 2020
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286

 

On August 3, 2020, CDC updated its isolation guidance based on the latest science about COVID-19 showing that people can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after diagnosis and not be infectious to others.  Contrary to media reporting today, this science does not imply a person is immune to reinfection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the 3 months following infection.  The latest data simply suggests that retesting someone in the 3 months following initial infection is not necessary unless that person is exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 and the symptoms cannot be associated with another illness.

People with COVID-19 should be isolated for at least 10 days after symptom onset and until 24 hours after their fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing medications.

There have been more than 15 international and U.S.-based studies recently published looking at length of infection, duration of viral shed, asymptomatic spread and risk of spread among various patient groups.  Researchers have found that the amount of live virus in the nose and throat drops significantly soon after COVID-19 symptoms develop.  Additionally, the duration of infectiousness in most people with COVID-19 is no longer than 10 days after symptoms begin and no longer than 20 days in people with severe illness or those who are severely immunocompromised.

CDC will continue to closely monitor the evolving science for information that would warrant reconsideration of these recommendations.