(RE) currences in COVID-19: (RE)-activation or (RE)-infection?

Shah, Anuradha K.; Raul, Mayuri U.

The COVID-19 which started in December 2019 has spread rapidly worldwide with millions of cases out of which many have successfully recovered. Owing to novelty, COVID-19 has been a mystery in itself since the beginning. Some cases develop severe complications while some remain asymptomatic. With research being done in all parts of the world, many lacunae in the etiology and pathophysiology of the disease have been filled. As we move ahead with the pandemic new information is getting added to the existing knowledge pool. The residual damages and long-term health effects are yet to be encountered. The question that has been in the minds of many researchers and is still being explored remains that about re-infection. There are multiple cases worldwide where the discharged patients have been detected positive once again. In India, the guidelines for prophylaxis, testing strategy, quarantine, home isolation, and discharge policies have been revised time and again by the ministry and ICMR. It is difficult to label ones re-detected positive status, taking into consideration strain of coronavirus, dead viral particles, antibodies and reliability of tests. The role of vaccine and herd immunity also becomes controversial with number of such cases arising. We have tried to compile and find out the scientific causes, its effects on individual and what can be the implications on the Public Health and scope of development of strategies required for such occurrences. Efforts need to be taken in such a way that there is neither a panic situation nor should there be a false sense of security post-recovery.