What to do if you have a "double positive"? Authoritative answers

Recently, some people have tested positive for COVID-19 twice, and some have experienced COVID-19 related symptoms such as sore throat. What are the symptoms of COVID-19 after testing positive for COVID-19 twice? How to deal with COVID-19 after testing positive for COVID-19 twice? The National Health Commission organized experts to answer these questions.

Key Points

Overall, experts believe that there will be no large-scale epidemic in the short term, nor will it have a significant impact on the normal medical order and social operation of the local area. People who were infected at the end of last year still have effective antibody protection, and even if they are infected again, the symptoms are generally mild.

At present, the proportion of severe cases is very low, whether it is the first infection or the second infection. It is recommended that the elderly and other groups take good personal protection and seek medical treatment in time if infected.

01

Mainly prevalent XBB series variants

No significant change in pathogenicity

"According to monitoring data, the main strain of the new coronavirus in my country is the Omicron XBB series variant." Chen Cao, a researcher at the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that more than five months have passed since the "Class B control". my country's exchanges with the international community have continued to increase, and the composition of the domestic new coronavirus strains has been significantly affected by the international community. In early May, the proportion of XBB series variants in my country's imported cases had reached 95.6%, which is basically consistent with the proportion of XBB series variants worldwide. Among local cases, the proportion of XBB series variants increased from 0.2% in February to 83.6% in early May, and the BA.5.2, BF.7 and BA.2 series variants accounted for about 16.4% in total.

"The XBB series of mutants are recombinant mutants of the new coronavirus Omicron. Research data show that compared with the early prevalent Omicron mutants, their transmission and immune escape capabilities are stronger, but their pathogenicity has not changed significantly." Chen Cao said that everyone should look at the epidemic scientifically, adhere to the good hygiene habits that have been developed, not panic too much, not be careless, and maintain a good attitude.

"Overall, we believe that there will be no large-scale epidemic in the short term, nor will it have a significant impact on the normal medical order and social operation of the local area." Wang Liping, a researcher at the Communication and Prevention Department of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, introduced that the national infectious disease network direct reporting system monitoring showed that since late April, the number of confirmed cases reported nationwide has shown an upward trend, especially after the May Day holiday. In the past week, the upward trend in the number of confirmed cases reported nationwide has slowed down. Fever clinic monitoring data showed that since late April, especially in May, the number of patients visiting fever clinics nationwide has increased, and the positive detection rate of the new crown has remained at around 7%. It is expected that the national epidemic will continue to show a slow upward trend in the next period of time, and it is not ruled out that the epidemic in some areas will increase.

Chen Cao said that the disease control departments will continue to monitor confirmed cases and clustered outbreaks in sentinel hospitals, strengthen monitoring of variants in severe cases and special populations, and work with customs departments to monitor imported variants. my country has established a multi-channel monitoring and early warning mechanism. Once an epidemic is discovered, local disease control departments will verify, evaluate, warn, and deal with it, and will also respond to public concerns in real time.

02

Secondary infection generally has a shorter course of disease

Shorter fever time and lower fever degree

"People who were infected at the end of last year still have effective antibody protection. Even if they are infected again, the symptoms are generally mild." Wang Guiqiang, director of the infectious disease department of Peking University First Hospital, analyzed that the clinical manifestations of new coronavirus infection are similar, whether it is the first infection or the second infection, that is, viral infection. However, after infection, the severity of the disease is affected by many factors, including the amount of viral infection, basic immune status, previous vaccination status, etc., so everyone may feel differently. On the whole, people who are reinfected or infected for the second time, whether it is the original Omicron strain BF.7 or BA.4.5, or the current XBB, have milder symptoms. Such as a shorter course of disease, a shorter fever time, and a lower fever degree.

"From a clinical perspective, the proportion of severe cases is very low, whether it is the first infection or the reinfection." Wang Guiqiang said that the proportion of hospitalizations for COVID-19 is very low. Some elderly people who need hospitalization do not have severe COVID-19 symptoms, but their underlying diseases are very serious and require hospitalization.

Wang Guiqiang said that people who were not infected before, the elderly, those who have not been vaccinated, and those with underlying diseases are the groups of clinical concern and the groups that need key protection. It is recommended that these high-risk groups pay attention to protection and try not to be infected. Elderly people with underlying diseases who have symptoms such as fever and upper respiratory tract infection should at least do antigen testing to know if they are infected with the new coronavirus and seek medical treatment in time. Now, antiviral drugs can be used, and early antiviral treatment for people at high risk of severe illness can reduce the risk of severe illness.

Wang Guiqiang suggested that once you are infected with the new coronavirus or have tested positive for the virus, you should still take good personal protection, especially if there are elderly people at home, especially those who are bedridden and have underlying diseases, to avoid infecting family members and minimize the harm. You should avoid working while sick, avoid participating in gatherings, take good personal protection when going out, and recover at home as much as possible.

Recently, some people have experienced sore throats. Is it caused by the new coronavirus? Wang Guiqiang said that the throat is a gateway to the upper respiratory tract of the human body, and sore throats are a common manifestation of respiratory tract infections. Whether it is the new coronavirus, the influenza virus, or even bacterial infections such as mycoplasma and chlamydia, sore throats will occur. If sore throats occur, you can use antipyretic and analgesic drugs, or drink more water and rest to effectively relieve them.

03

Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Take good personal protection

"The symptoms of the secondary infection are very mild. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, it is a wind-heat cold with the characteristics of a wind-heat cold." Liu Qingquan, director of Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, analyzed that many places are now turning from spring to summer, and the weather is gradually getting hotter. When the weather gets hot, diseases caused by wind-heat will increase. After the secondary infection, symptoms of wind-heat cold appear, such as sore throat, mild cough, low fever, etc. The use of traditional Chinese medicine to treat wind-heat cold is very effective, such as heat-clearing, wind-dispersing and throat-clearing drugs. People with low fever can reduce fever in less than 24 hours after using these drugs, their throats will no longer hurt, and systemic symptoms will gradually disappear.

Liu Qingquan said that people should not panic in the event of secondary infection. They should take good personal protection measures, wash hands frequently, avoid places where people gather, and open windows for ventilation.

"To maintain a healthy diet, it is best to eat a light diet." Liu Qingquan said that from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, people with internal heat accumulation are most likely to be affected by colds caused by wind-heat. Frequent consumption of oily, spicy, and salty foods will quickly accumulate heat in the body, making it easy to catch a cold or be infected with the new coronavirus. Therefore, a light diet should be maintained, and the stomach and intestines should be kept clear to prevent heat accumulation in the stomach and intestines, which will reduce the probability of re-infection.

Liu Qingquan said that for children and adolescents, they should eat less fast food and drink less carbonated drinks. Children and adolescents have a yang-heat constitution. Frequent fast food and carbonated drinks will cause heat accumulation in the body, which will greatly increase the probability of infection with the new coronavirus. After they are infected, the probability of spreading the virus will increase because children have more learning activities. They should maintain a regular work and rest schedule, go to bed early, and eat a light diet.

Wang Liping said that after entering the "Class B and Class B control" stage, my country's prevention and control goal is to protect health and prevent severe illness. Therefore, for people at high risk of severe illness, such as the elderly, especially those over 80 years old and patients with serious underlying diseases, they must take good personal protection, avoid going to crowded places, pay attention to hand hygiene, and wear masks when going to crowded and closed environments.

Source: People's Daily