Coronavirus: 91 patients who recovered in South Korea test positive again

More than 90 people who recovered from COVID-19 in South Korea have tested positive again.

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said a total of 91 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus after they were released from quarantine.

The country had recorded 51 of such cases on Monday.

Jeong Eun-kyeong, KCDC director-general, on Friday, said a viral test on such cases was underway, with the results expected at least two weeks later, unlike regular swab tests used to test for COVID-19 that shows results in a relatively shorter time.

A COVID-19 patient is deemed fully recovered after showing negative results for two tests in a row, performed within a 24-hour interval.

“We are isolating viral cells from respiratory organs of those who have tested positive for COVID-19 again,” Jeong said.

“A study into how immunity is developed after COVID-19 infection is still ongoing.”

The KCDC said it was also looking into whether those who have tested positive again had an antibody that would indicate whether they had recovered, as some health experts said immune people with the antibody were not contagious.

Health authorities in Seoul said the virus was highly likely to have been reactivated instead of the people being reinfected.

They said COVID-19 could remain dormant at undetectable levels in human cells and attack the respiratory organs again once reactivated.

According to the KCDC, the country’s COVID-19 infections fell below 30 for the first time since February 20.

The country’s total infection is now 10,450 with 208 deaths.