Hong Kong Covid-19 reinfections increase by 4 times amid case surge, but experts say no cause for concern
- Covid-19 reinfection rate has increased from 1.5 per cent to 6 per cent over past three months
- Experts say jump expected because city’s last large-scale outbreak took place more than six months ago and residents’ antibodies have weakened
The number of Covid-19 reinfections in Hong Kong has increased by four times over the past three months amid a surge in cases, but health experts have said the trend is not a cause for concern.
According to the latest official statistics, the reinfection rate across last month was about 6 per cent, increasing from 1.5 per cent in September.
Respiratory medicine expert Dr Leung Chi-chiu said the rise was expected as the last large outbreak happened more than six months ago in March last year.
“As time goes by, even after the first infection, the antibodies and T-cells in the body will drop because they no longer have to fight against the virus,” he said. T-cells are a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infection. “For most reinfection cases, the symptoms are milder than the first infection.”
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Overseas studies had shown that patients reinfected with the virus were at greater risk of developing serious symptoms, requiring hospital treatment and death.