The majority of people who have already had the COVID-19 virus are protected from being reinfected for another six months, reported SABC News.
A study revealed on Wednesday, March 17, that even though this may be true, elderly people are prone to getting it again when compared to younger people.
According to Reuters, the study found that only 0.65% of patients tested positive a second time for COVID-19 after being infected during Denmark’s first and second wave.
This was much lower than the 3.27% who tested positive using a highly accurate PCR test after initially tested negative.
However, the study has found that people over the age of 65 only have 46% protection against a second infection, compared to 80% in younger people.
“Our study confirms what a number of others appeared to suggest: reinfection with COVID-19 is rare in younger, healthy people, but the elderly are at greater risk of catching it again,” said Steen Ethelberg of Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut.
“Since older people are also more likely to experience severe disease symptoms, and sadly die, our findings make clear how important it is to implement policies to protect the elderly during the pandemic.”
Further studies are needed to assess protection against reinfection from those who already have had the coronavirus.
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