COVID-19.  With Omicron, the infection multiplies

Having Covid once does not protect against a new infection: As Omicron, the likelihood of contracting the virus increases several times, according to a study public health France. It will grow.

“In light of the marked increase in the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 currently observed in France, and the characteristics of the BA.4/BA.5 substrains, which are now in the majority, it is expected that the frequency of re-infections will continue to increase in weeks. ahead”, warns the French public health authority.

The agency notes that “SARS-CoV-2 infection was much higher during omicron waves than during previous periods.”

12% of cases

In early June (the week of June 6-12), 12% of confirmed Covid-19 cases were probable cases of reinfection. We talk about getting infected again when you have a second positive test for Covid at least 60 days after you first contracted the disease.

This rate of infection again has been increasing since the Omicron wave swept France last December.

Between March 2, 2021 and June 12, 2022, potential re-infections accounted for 4.1% of all confirmed cases of Covid-19, again according to Santé Publique France. Elle était de 0,7% jusqu’au 5 décembre 2021 (avant le nouveau variant Omicron) et de 4,8% depuis le 6 décembre 2021 après l’arrivée de ce nouveau variant du Sars-Cov-2 devenu aujourd’hui majorit in the country.

According to Public Health France, “93.5% of the probable cases of re-infection since March 2, 2021 that were an interpretable screening result for the second episode are suspected to be a form of Omicron”.

Fairly mild cases

Having an Omicron already doesn’t protect against it: “For 44% of potential re-infections that occurred during the week of June 6-12, the first episode occurred during a period in which Omicron prevalence is more than 90% during flash surveys”.

“However, despite the high number of re-infections with omicron after the first omicron infection, the probability of re-infection currently after the first infection with another variant (alpha, delta, or other) remains much higher,” defines the SPF.

The agency continues, “The possibility of infection again increases with the age of the first infection, reaching a plateau about six months after the first infection.”

Having the disease twice does not increase the risk: “Re-infection is, in the majority, mild cases,” notes Vincent Auvine, an epidemiologist at Public Health France and author of the study on re-infection.

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