[Goose]

Generally, I agree with the assessment that in most cases reinfection should not happen for most patients (those with certain immune defficiencies may be vulnerable).  However, I want to caution that this virus has already confounded a lot of assumptions.  For example, the initial assessment was that asymptomatic (and presymptomatic) transmission was unlikely; we now know that's not the case.  And it is worth noting that the virus is an RNA virus like influenza, and RNA viruses are more prone to mutations than DNA viruses.  It is possible, though unlikely, that the virus will mutate and that it may become possible to be reinfected with a second strain.

I think it is very important to keep the above in mind. This is a novel virus. You can infer behavior from other similar virus, but if you do so you must be aware that you may be wrong. Until we have the data, we don't know. Getting data takes time and research. One must trade off the damage of taking the time required to be certain against the damage of being wrong. Not always clear or easy.

[Goose]

Generally, I agree with the assessment that in most cases reinfection should not happen for most patients (those with certain immune defficiencies may be vulnerable).  However, I want to caution that this virus has already confounded a lot of assumptions.  For example, the initial assessment was that asymptomatic (and presymptomatic) transmission was unlikely; we now know that's not the case.  And it is worth noting that the virus is an RNA virus like influenza, and RNA viruses are more prone to mutations than DNA viruses.  It is possible, though unlikely, that the virus will mutate and that it may become possible to be reinfected with a second strain.

I think it is very important to keep the above in mind. This is a novel virus. You can infer behavior from other similar virus, but if you do so you must be aware that you may be wrong. Until we have the data, we don't know. Getting data takes time and research. One must trade off the damage of taking the time required to be certain against the damage of being wrong. Not always clear or easy.