No evidenced-based evaluation yet: DOH warns public on Hong Kong study on COVID-19 reinfection

The recent report about researchers from Hong Kong about the “reinfection” of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cannot be evaluated yet according to the Department of Health (DOH).

On Tuesday evening, August 25, the DOH issued a statement in relation to the recent press release from the University of Hong Kong which documented a patient who was infected with two distinct SARS-CoV-2 viruses, one after the other.

“DOH and its Technical Advisory Group emphasize that no evidenced-based evaluation can be done until after details of the study are released in a peer-reviewed scientific journal,” the Department said.

“Moreover, data on post-infection immunity are also lacking, according to the World Health Organization,” it added.

DOH said that it is monitoring the issue and it prepared to evaluate it once “reliable scientific information is available.”

It highlighted that it does not want people who have been infected by the virus before “to assume that they are already immune to the disease.”

DOH then reiterated its advice to the public to continue following and upholding health protocols such as using face masks, handwashing, and physical distancing.

“Right now, in the midst of this uncertainty and public health crisis, thoughtful and rigorous science will be our guide,” it added.

It was on Monday when the study’s lead author, Kelvin Kai-Wang To, microbioligist at Hong Kong University’s Faculty of Medicine, told Agence France-Presse that their study “proves that immunity for COVID infection is not lifelong. In fact, reinfection can occur quite quickly.”

When a 33-year-old Hong Kong resident who contracted the virus around March to April, tested positive again between July and August after a mandatory test in the Hong Kong airport; the researchers claimed it to be the first confirmed case of COVID-19 reinfection worlwide.