First American catches COVID-19 twice — and second case was worse

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A Nevada man who caught COVID-19 twice is the first confirmed case of reinfection in North America.

A 25-year-old Nevada man became infected with the coronavirus on two separate occasions over the summer and experienced significantly more severe symptoms during the second infection, raising questions about how long people are protected from the coronavirus after their initial infection, according to a new study. 

The study led by researchers from the University of Nevada and Nevada State Public Health Laboratory published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal analyzed the case of the first American confirmed to have been reinfected with the coronavirus that has infected nearly 8 million people and left more than 215,000 dead in the U.S. 

Researchers said the resident of Washoe County began experiencing symptoms consistent with a viral infection in late March and first tested positive for COVID-19 on April 18. His symptoms fully cleared up on April 27 and he tested negative for the virus on two separate occasions, on May 9 and May 26.  Continue reading.