Can someone get COVID-19 more than once?
Yes. Getting COVID-19 (or any infection) more than once is called reinfection. Those who have recovered from COVID-19 may have some immune protection from reinfection for a few months, but it is possible that the recovered person could get COVID-19 again if exposed after that time. Data suggest that immunity from COVID-19 may last three months, or about 90 days.The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed. Another good way to prevent infection is to get the vaccine.
What are COVID-19 variants, and do we have them in Texas?
See full answerVariants are different strains of a virus. Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Other times, new variants emerge and persist. Multiple variants of the virus that causes COVID-19 have been documented in the United States and globally during this pandemic.We know that some of these variants are more contagious than others and are starting to spread in Texas. This is why we need to continue to take prevention steps and precautions against COVID-19, including getting vaccinated.For more information about variants in the U.S., see the About Variants page on the CDC site. For more information about variants in Texas, visit the News Updates page on the DSHS website.
Can a person test negative and later test positive for COVID-19?
Test results reflect the state of illness at the time when you are tested. Someone can test negative one day, then get exposed, and test positive on a later day. If a person is in the early stages of infection, it is possible the test will not detect the virus and come back negative.
What is the difference between testing positive for the COVID-19 antigen and antibody test?
A positive antigen test means that the person being tested has an active COVID-19 infection. A positive antibody test means that the person being tested was infected with COVID-19 in the past and that their immune system developed antibodies to try to fight it off.