If I have had COVID-19, can I get it again?

Persons with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (those who have had COVID-19) may have some short-term protection immediately following an infection, but this varies from person to person.  Reinfection is possible for  persons due to lack of immunity, which could happen for a number of reasons including waning immunity or infection with a new variant of the virus that is  different from the original infection. Re-infected individuals could have a similar capacity to transmit virus as those infected for the first time.