Covid rebound warning as Queenslanders get multiple infections

Experts are warning that Queenslanders are getting repeat doses of Covid within three weeks of being infected despite government advice saying reinfection within 12 weeks is unlikely.

As infectious disease experts reveal that Queenslanders are suffering from multiple bouts of Covid-19 with just a three week break for some, Queensland Health’s post Covid online advice that you are “unlikely to get the virus again in the 12 weeks after isolation” is under scrutiny.

“There is a perception that once you’ve had Covid you are safe, that’s not correct We are seeing people getting the virus many times and in some cases they get a repeat dose within as little as three weeks,” Prof Paul Griffin said.

Queensland Health’s advice, which they say has come from the Federal Government, says that “you are unlikely to get the virus again in the 12 weeks after completing isolation” and you are considered a “cleared case” for that three months is under scrutiny as infectious disease experts warn some Queenslanders are being reinfected within three weeks.

The advice continues with if you do get symptoms within 12 weeks after isolation ends you don’t need to get tested but you should isolate if you get symptoms.

Confusion about Covid infections has been compounded by researchers discovering a new phenomenon called “Covid rebound” which may be causing Queenslanders to come out of isolation too early, spreading the virus around the state.

Professor Paul Griffin gets the Covid vaccine. Pic Annette Dew

International researchers have found that some patients seem to be getting better and even testing negative before then experiencing a recurrence of symptoms and retesting positive two to eight days later.

The British Medical Journal has highlighted the anomaly discovered by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The researchers found that while many of the reports of rebounding are from people taking a five day course of the antiviral paxlovid — which is used to prevent severe illness in newly infected at-risk patients — it has also been seen in those not taking the drug and seems to affect both those who are unvaccinated and vaccinated.

The journal reports that based on the current evidence, the CDC said that these do not seem to be cases of reinfection. It noted, however, that during the rebound period it’s possible that people are infectious. As such, patients have been advised to re-isolate for at least five days if they experience a return of symptoms or test positive again.

Also there have been no reports of severe illness in those who have experienced Covid rebound, and most people seem to recover and stop testing positive around three days later without needing additional Covid treatment.

The Courier-Mail asked Queensland Health if the Post Covid advice was misleading they said the advice was put in place by the federal government. The Federal Health Department was approached for comment

Originally published as Covid rebound warning as Queenslanders get multiple infections