2 in 10 families surveyed had instances of COVID reinfection in last 6 months; 46% who had it said second infection more severe

June 23, 2022, New Delhi: LocalCircles has often been hearing from citizens about COVID reinfection post the December-January 3rd wave led by Omicron. The original sub-variant of Omicron BA.1 was followed by BA.2. The latest sub-variants now reported in India and rising are BA.2.12.1 and BA.5. Genome sequencing data suggests that while BA.2 is still predominant at nearly 70%, BA.5 is on the rise at 6%. BA.2.12.1 is currently at 5% per genome sequencing data. With no restriction in place andpeople travelling during summer, COVID cases are again on the rise with nearly 12,000 cases reported nationally on a daily basis. Those are reported cases, however, LocalCircles estimates the actual number of infections are 5X of the reported cases. One question that is on the mind of a lot of people is how susceptible are they to the new sub-variants, especially if they have had COVID in the last 6 months.

Researchers say that Omicron subvariants escape antibodies elicited by vaccination as well as previous Omicron infection. In the UK, per the Office for National Statistics, the risk of being reinfected with COVID-19 was about 8X higher compared with when the delta variant was surging. Taking cognisance of the issue, LocalCircles has conducted a survey to understand the current reinfection situation in India post the 3rd wave led by Omicron. It asked citizens if they or their immediate family had Omicron reinfection in the last 180 days or 6 months. It also sought to know in what months did they get their infections, along with the severity of the multiple infections during the period. The survey received more than 35,000 responses from citizens across 301 districts of India. 67% of the respondents were men while 33% were women. 42% respondents were from tier 1/metro districts, 35% were from tier 2 districts and 23% were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts.

18% citizens have had 1 or more individuals in the family who got reinfected with COVID in the last 6 months

The first question in the survey asked citizens, “How many individuals in your family (including yourself) do you have who have been infected with COVID twice in the last 180 days?” In response, the majority, 82% of citizens said “No one, thankfully”. However, 2% have “5 or more individuals”, 8% have “2-4 individuals”, and another 8% have “1 individual”. On an aggregate basis, 18% citizens have had 1 or more individuals in the family who got reinfected with COVID in the last 6 months. This question received 12,381 responses.

Of those people who got reinfected again in the last 6 months, 45% got their reinfection weeks after the original infection while for 27% it was 6 months apart

The following question asked citizens, “The individuals in your family (including yourself) or in close network who got infected by COVID twice in the last 180 days, in what months did they get their infections?” In response, 17% said “December–January twice”, 17% said “December–January & February-March”, 27% said “December-January & June”, 17% said “April & June”, 11% said “May & June”. 11% said “Other combinations than the ones described above”. On an aggregate basis, of those people who got reinfected again in the last 6 months, 45% got their reinfection weeks after the original infection while for 27% it was 6 months apart. This question received 11,604 responses.

Of those who got reinfected with Omicron (COVID) in the last 6 months, 46% said their 2nd infection was more severe than the 1st one

The final question in the study asked citizens, “The individuals in your family (including yourself) who got infected by COVID twice/thrice in the last 180 days, how were their infections and associated symptoms?” In response, 21% said “1st severe, 2nd mild”, another 21% said “1st mild, 2nd mild”, 46% said “1st mild, 2nd severe”, and 12% said “Had it 3 times (severe and then mild subsequently)”. This means that of those who got reinfected with Omicron (COVID) in the last 6 months, 46% said their 2nd infection was more severe than the 1st one. This question received 11,106 responses.

A recent study released on June 17th by experts at Washington University School of Medicine showed that COVID is more severe the 2nd time in young people. For people who are reinfected within as little as 8 days, there's a 12X increase in hospitalisation, 2X increase in ICU and 100% increase in death. It showed that when compared to those with the first infection, reinfection led to increased risk. It said with re-infection mortality increased by 2.38%, hospitalisation by 9.5% and post-COVID medical events by 19.6%. It added, as compared to those with the first infection, those with reinfection had increased organ system disorder: lung by 5.0%, cardiovascular by 5.0%, blood disorder by 2.6%, fatigue by 3.3%, gastrointestinal disorders by 2.7%, kidney by 1.4%, mental health by 12.1%, diabetes by 2.2%, and neurological disorders by 3.6%.

To summarise, 18% of citizens have had 1 or more individuals in the family who got reinfected with COVID in the last 6 months. Of those people who got reinfected again in the last 6 months, 45% got their reinfection weeks after the original infection while for 27% it was 6 months apart. Of those who got reinfected with Omicron (COVID) in the last 6 months, 46% said their 2nd infection was more severe than the 1st one. This indicates that COVID reinfections are more common with Omicron than they were with Alpha, Beta and Delta variants. It also indicates that people are getting reinfected more often within a few weeks of their infection and for a sizable number of people the 2nd infection has been more severe. It also must be kept in mind that 27% of were reinfected post 6 months of the original infection.

With multiple studies indicating that every COVID reinfection worsens the risk of an individual to long COVID and other health conditions, it is now upon individuals and families to protect themselves through COVID-appropriate behaviour of masking and social distancing.

Survey Demographics

The survey received more than 35,000 responses from citizens across 301 districts of India. 67% of the respondents were men while 33% were women. 42% respondents were from tier 1/metro districts, 35% were from tier 2 districts and 23% were from tier 3, 4 and rural districts. The survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform and all participants are validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.