It's a question we all have: Can you catch COVID-19 twice? And is it worse the second time around? A doctor from UNC has a vital message for those who have recovered from COVID-19 once already.
SINCE FEBRUARY IN THE UNITED STATES, THEY ARE MORE THAN NUMBERS, THEY ARE PEOPLE. >> AND AS CASES CONTINUE TO SEARCH, SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING IT TWICE? IS REINFECTION WORSE, THE SECOND TIME AROUND? A DOCTOR WARNS THAT IF YOU ALREADY HAD IT, YOU ARE NOT IMMUNE. >> IF YOU HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH COVID ONCE, WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF BEING REINFECTED? NO WE ARE STARTING TO SEE DOCUMENTED REINFECTION ABROAD AND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES. >> Reporter: THIS DOCTOR IS AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF FAMILY MEDICINE >> THE LIKELIHOOD OF YOU BEING INFECTED A SECOND TIME IS VERY LOW, BUT IT IS HARD TO BE CERTAIN. DOCUMENT THOSE CASES OF REINFECTION CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING. >> Reporter: IF A PATIENT IS REINFECTED, DATA SHOWS THAT VARIETY AND SEVERITY OF SYMPTOMS, I ASKED IF THE VIRUS IS MORE OR LESS CONTAGIOUS FOLLOWING INFECTION. >> EVERYBODY IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HANDLES THIS VIRUS DIFFERENTLY. THERE IS NO RULES ABOUT WHAT THE SECOND INFECTION MIGHT LOOK LIKE. >> WILL A VACCINE BE AVAILABLE SOONER, IN THE NEAR FUTURE? LET'S SAY SOMEONE GETS COVID AND RECOVERS, SHOULD THEY GET THE VACCINE? >> ABSOLUTELY, YES. >> Reporter: THE DOCTOR IS CLEAR IN HER MESSAGE TO THOSE THAT HAVE ALREADY COVERED RECOVERED. >> IF YOU HAD COVID-19, IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE SAFE FROM REINFECTION. YOU SHOULD STILL'S PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING. KEEP WEARING YOUR FACEMASK EVERY PLACE YOU GO. >> Reporter: CASES OF
