4,811 recovered Israeli COVID patients got reinfected

[TomCADem]

Source: Times of Israel

Health Ministry data cited by Channel 13 suggests the Delta variant may be more effective at causing COVID reinfection among recovered patients than earlier strains of the coronavirus.

According to the data, 4,811 Israelis have been reinfected with coronavirus, accounting for 0.47 percent of the total recoveries. (The data provided refers to over 900,000 recovered Israelis, though the figure has since surpassed a million).

However, just 0.08% of the reinfection cases were recorded in 2020, while the number climbed to 0.71% in 2021 when the Delta variant became the dominant strain in Israel. In the past month, 2,702 recovered patients contracted the coronavirus again, or some 1.8%, the report says. It is unclear to what extent the Delta variant is more effective and to what extent the reinfections are the result of waning antibodies.

The majority of reinfections are among the young, according to the report.

Read more: https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/4811-recovered-israeli-covid-patients-got-reinfected-tv/

[BumRushDaShow]

1. "The majority of reinfections are among the young, according to the report."

Some variables and possibilities as to why (although a "constant" is that Delta is obviously more infectious and produces a higher viral load in a shorter time than previous variants) -

Although Israel was vaccinating faster with their phases and the younger eligible demographic were getting vaccinated fairly quickly compared to the U.S., who put the young at the tail end of the schedule, their social behavior in general, suggests that they could have a higher risk at re-exposure

If the young who recovered and were reinfected hadn't been vaccinated before the reinfection, then it would make sense that they could get reinfected. However if they DID get vaccinated, post-infection, and got reinfected, then it brings up other issues as they should be more primed with that vaccine. That then suggests things go back to the " (sometimes risky) social behavior/more opportunities for exposure" thing and whether other mitigation, like masking, may have helped

I had a young contractor (probably in his late 20s) for the gas company come here last week for a scheduled removal and replacement of my gas meter, which is in the basement. He came unmasked (although there is a mask mandate for "indoors" in place here in Philly - but with the caveat that probably needs to be altered IMHO that masks were not needed "if all parties were vaccinated" ).

He proclaimed he was vaccinated (which I believed) when he saw I had my N95 on with my big air purifier on Turbo (which is probably what caught his attention and prompted him to say that he was vaccinated "by the way" ). He wasn't here more than about 20 minutes total - mostly in the basement and then the kitchen to bleed the lines and check the stove, but I wasn't playing. I just wanted him to do what he needed to do and leave, which he did. I was friendly, but it is part of what we are dealing with and will continue to deal with for the long term with respect to this virus and different people's assessment of "risk".

[JudyM]

3. "Fleeting contact" appears to be enough with delta

according to a tracing study out of New Zealand. Couple that with the research suggesting vaccinated folks have - and expel - just as much of the virus in their nasal mucosa as unvaccinated during the first week or so of infection, and may not be aware they’re infected, and there you have it.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. Yes that's what I understand

although the relative amount so far found with the vaccinated vs the unvaccinated is less (presuming both had similar exposure) - indicating the vaccine does work. However Delta produces so much of itself, that there is "excess" that can be shed, and it can initially overwhelm a vaccinated individual before their immune system kicks in to start neutralizing it.

So I expect there is a narrower "contagious time frame" for shed with this variant vs earlier variants when it comes to the vaccinated, but the shed can still happen due to that initial larger quantity that it can produce fairly rapidly.

[JudyM]

5. Yes, so going unmasked even for fleeting contact can make us a host that unknowingly

offers the virus a chance to mutate more vaccine-evasive variants. Or 6-degrees-of-separation later, infect an unvaccinated or depressed-immunity individual who ends up in the hospital or worse. I’m especially sensitive to all this because of the vigilance necessary to protect my elderly mom. ❤️

[BumRushDaShow]

6. That's why I found and bought some new N95s

particularly for situations like this "indoors". I double-mask normally for 30 second trips to the post office (in and out to mail bills/cards) and at the supermarket - with the social distancing that I do (usually no more than about 30 - 45 minutes including driving there, getting my stuff, checkout, and getting home).

Fortunately where I am, there are quite a few retired and elderly who are masked up in the post office and supermarket and being retired, I can go (which is now maybe every 10 days or so) at those earlier times too in order to avoid crowds.

[JudyM]

9. Ah, right, I should go back to double masking indoors.

Been a while since I did that, thanks for the reminder! Did you find N95s online? I’ve only been seeing the KN95s.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. I checked the list on CDC's website (NIOSH has a MOU with them to list the "approved" N95s)

and found one company on the list that sold them on Amazon, and got those. It was a box of 20. I am not going out that much and when I do, I am not in anyplace frequently for an extended period of time (i.e., more than about 45 minutes), except if I am getting my car serviced and waiting for it to get done, etc, so I generally have been double-masking. But when I go to the doctor's office, I put on the N95 because during the times I go, there are a number of 80+ year olds there with all kinds of conditions, so for their protection and the staff who work in there, it's no problem for me to do it.

CDC/NIOSH LINK (alphabetical list) - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/n95list1.html

Neither CDC nor NIOSH evaluate the KN95s though.

[IronLionZion]

2. Rand Paul keeps telling his supporters they have natural immunity if infected

and don't need no stinking vaccines. So some of the dumber Republicans are deliberately trying to get infected.

[TheFarseer]

7. By that logic

You should go ahead and crash your car into a telephone pole so you don’t have to wear your seatbelt anymore.

[IronLionZion]

8. Free Dumb!