If patient already infected, auto-infection is almost impossible since patient already developed antibodies against the virus.

Regarding reports that mentioned re-infection ; it is very rare and reported cases re-infected with another strains.

Regarding how long antibodies will protect you after infection, till now there is no clear answer but most likely 6 months to 3 years and not less than 3 months .

I said 6 months to 3 years depend study that studied duration of antibody responses after SARS-CoV1.

Thank you

Regards,

Abdulhadi Al-Qahtani, MD/MHA

Abdul Hadi Al-Qahtani: Thanks so immensely. I guess we still have a long way to go so as to fully decipher the dynamics, epidemiology, transmission and pathogencity of the novel coronavirus.

Nusrat Jahan Sathi

Nusrat Jahan Sathi