As a doctor, I often hear from patients worried about COVID-19, especially those with long COVID. One question comes up a lot: ‘Can you catch COVID again while still dealing with long COVID, maybe a different strain?’
Many people assume that having long COVID means they’re still ‘immune’ to getting the virus again. But sadly, this isn’t the case.
Long COVID results in symptoms like tiredness, trouble breathing or brain fog that sticks around for months after a COVID infection. Unfortunately, having long COVID doesn’t protect you from getting the virus again.
Your body’s protection from a past infection or the vaccine fades over a few months. Plus, new versions of the virus, called variants (like Omicron’s KP.3 or XEC in 2025), can slip past your immune system.
This means that even if you’re still managing long COVID symptoms, you can catch COVID again and, in some cases, it might trigger a flare-up or slow down your recovery.
A positive test could mean the same or a new variant, but either way, it’s still COVID. Vaccines, especially the 2025 boosters, help lower the risk of serious illness. If you have long COVID and test positive, rest, drink plenty of water and talk to your doctor if your symptoms get bad.
COVID is still with us and it continues to evolve. So, it’s worth continuing some of those protective habits, like testing if you feel unwell, wearing a mask in busy indoor spaces and keeping up with vaccinations.
These small steps can help reduce your risk and protect those around you, especially if you’re still navigating the long tail of this virus.
This article is an answer to the question (asked by Terence Coldwell, Yorkshire) 'Can you catch COVID on top of COVID?'
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