My glorious two and a half year run of negative COVID tests came to a shuddering halt last week, after receiving a text confirming I was among the pandemic’s latest catch. My case adds to the rising slope of the third Omicron wave in seven months, currently rolling across Australia. (Also read: Had Covid at Christmas? You could get it again now)While shivering through my mild bout, I’d optimistically thought that at least I would have several months’ reprieve from isolation precautions and testing. But emerging evidence suggests the possibility of reinfection within a shorter timeframe for newer subvariants.
Experts have reduced the protective window of prior infection from 12 weeks to 28 days. This week, the New South Wales, Western Australia and Australian Capital Territory governments all announced those who’ve had COVID before will need to test after 28 days if they experience symptoms. If positive, they’ll be treated as new cases.
Reinfection – testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) after having recovered from a prior infection – is on the way up. Reinfection made up 1% of all cases in the pre-Omicron period in England, but in recent weeks it comprised more than 25% of daily cases there and 18% in New York City.