Reinfection rate growing in China.

In the last 48 hours, five provinces have reported cases of recovered patients in isolation testing positive for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Cases were first reported in Tianjin then followed by Guangdong, Sichuan, Hubei, Hunan and Zhejiang.
 
The first cases for the last 48 hours were initially reported in the Northern city of Tianjin that had no new cases for previous four consecutive days. First two “recovered patients’ who had been discharged from hospitals tested positive for the Covid-19 disease but then more gradually emerged.
 
Health officials also revealed that more recovered patients from the other five provinces also tested positive in the last 48 hours.
 
Earlier, on the 25^th Of February, health authorities in Guangdong province had reported that about 14% of its recovered patients were showing reinfections after testing positive in mandatory follow up testings despite being in isolation. Since then the percentages have increased. The same was also observed in Hubei.

https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-news-more-provinces-in-china-reporting-reinfections-among-recovered-patients

Question: Is this re-infection from a mutation or relapse of people who are not really cured? 

There is no re-infection rate from Coronaviruses, once you recover, you have immunity.  

Weakened patients may be getting influenza, other viruses (picornaviruses, rhinoviruses, parainfluenza etc.) or experiencing secondary bacterial pneumonia.  

Don't believe all this garbage online.  ps. this is my latest credential.  (I always take my name off for confidentiality purposes).

I don't understand how you can unequivocally dismiss the scientists.....    

You can - if they are arguing among themselves.  They are.

Having said that, always err on the side of caution = prepare for the worst.

I am not a scientist, but do know some basics of antibody production during viral infection from my college courses. From what I  have read and understand, each of the two strains produce similar, but different, antibodies in the human host. It seems as though it would stand to reason that a person with antibodies to only the S strain could become infected with the L strain, as the antibodies would not fully recognize the new viral invader.  We may perceive that as “reinfection” with Coronavirus, when it is actually infection with the other strain.  However, the viruses and symptoms are indeed so incredibly similar that for us hosts it is, for all intents and purposes, reinfection — just not on the viral level.  

Patients have tested positive for both strains at once; they would likely not experience reinfection, as they would produce antibodies to both of the viruses.

Technophobe wrote: BeachMama wrote: Patients have tested positive for both strains at once; they would likely not experience reinfection, as they would produce antibodies to both of the viruses. Assuming they survive................

And then there is always the next strain of COVid 19 as well. This virus is not done mutating, it will never be done.

CRS, DrPH wrote: There is no re-infection rate from Coronaviruses, once you recover, you have immunity.   Weakened patients may be getting influenza, other viruses (picornaviruses, rhinoviruses, parainfluenza etc.) or experiencing secondary bacterial pneumonia.   Don't believe all this garbage online.  ps. this is my latest credential.  (I always take my name off for confidentiality purposes).

Coronavirus: ‘recovered’ patient dies as China reports discharged cases falling ill again

A 36-year-old man has died in Wuhan from respiratory failure days after being discharged from hospital
Latest data from the mainland shows most new infections continue to occur at epidemic’s epicentre

SCMP
Gigi Choy and Teddy Ng

Published: 9:23am, 5 Mar, 2020

Updated: 6:45pm, 5 Mar, 2020

A 36-year-old man has died of respiratory failure in Wuhan, five days after being discharged from one of the makeshift hospitals built to contain the outbreak, according to a report by Shanghai-based news portal The Paper.

The report, which was later removed, said Li Liang had been admitted to the hospital – built to treat patients with mild and moderate symptoms – on February 12, according to his wife, surnamed Mei. He was discharged two weeks later with instructions to stay in a quarantine hotel for 14 days.

Mei said her husband was not feeling well two days after leaving the hospital, with dry mouth and gaseous stomach. On March 2, Li said he felt sick and was sent to a hospital, where he was certified dead that afternoon.

continued
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/...D=ref_fark

Hazelpad wrote: Beach Mama It depends where the mutation is.  If it's in an epitope (bit the antibody binds to ) then yes immunity to one would not confer immunity to the other.   If it's not in an epitope region then yes you can get cross immunity.  For example immunisation with cow pox confers immunity to small pox etc. Hz x

Hazelpad, 

Thank you SO much for that! My understanding of this complex issue is based on classes I took many years ago. I’m sure I have forgotten more than I remember! Thank you for the detailed explanation of what would and would not confer immunity.