Over 800 Coloradans Infected With Coronavirus Twice: Officials

At least 822 people in Colorado have tested positive for the coronavirus twice, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

New data that tracks the double cases was added to the state's COVID-19 dashboard Monday.

The 822 people received two positive tests, 90 days apart, health officials said. Their second positive tests were reported after Aug. 20.

The group ranged in age from one to 101 years old, and their median age was 42, the data shows. The double cases were reported in 45 of the 64 counties in Colorado.

While reinfection is rare, the new data shows it can occur.

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"The measure of whether the two tests actually represent two different infections, as opposed to one continued infection with intermittent shedding of the virus, is whether they are genetically different from each other," the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in a news release.

"However, it is rarely possible to make this definitive determination due to availability of specimens. A lab needs access to the first and second samples to perform genetic sequencing. Because most labs don't keep samples for more than a few days, the state lab is unable to sequence for the vast majority of these cases."

Extended storage can also reduce the quality of a specimen and second infections often have lower viral load, which affects the ability to conduct genetic sequencing, health officials said.