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Simon Duke

Doctor Hilary Jones delivers big blow on people being re-infected with COVID-19 after confirmed case

Doctor Hilary Jones has issued a stark warning over the possibility of people being reinfected with coronavirus.

Good Morning Britain's resident health expert was back on the show on Tuesday, following a confirmed case of someone getting COVID-19 for a second time.

The case was reported by researchers at the University of Hong Kong's department of microbiology on Monday, August 24.

Researchers at the University said that an "apparently young and healthy patient had a second episode of Covid-19 infection which was diagnosed 4.5 months after the first episode".

And, a day after he angered teachers with social distancing accusations, Dr Hilary said the fact that that has happened raises grave concerns over immunity against the virus once you've had it.

He told GMB hosts Adil Ray and Charlotte Hawkins: "This news is even worse really. We were hoping that when people were infected with Covid-19 that they would then be immune for a period of time, yet to be determined.

"We have heard people say 'oh, I think I had the virus in February' or 'I had the virus in March.'

"We thought they were fine but this would suggest that they are not OK and they can be reinfected with different strains of Covid-19."

Detailing the confirmed case of re-infection in Hong Kong, Dr Hilary added: "What researchers in Hong Kong have discovered is a man who tested positive for coronavirus at an airport screening and got over that, four months later, had a different strain of it.

"So it is the same coronavirus but a different strain of it. Just like the common cold can re-occur.

"This suggests you do not make antibodies to one strain which keeps you immune from a second strain."

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