Love Island's Rachel Fenton has caught COVID-19 a second time

Two positive tests in under a year

In just under 10 months, the former Love Island star has confirmed on social media having contracted the COVID-19 virus a second time. The now orthopaedic clinical nurse specialist was first struck by the virus in march of this year.

In a video post shared on instagram, the 23-year-old can be heard urging fans to remain vigilant in light of the discovery of the new super-contagious COVID-19 strain that has been plaguing the UK in recent weeks.

Fenton shared on twitter how she:

tested positive back in March and also had the antibodies. I knew reinfection did happen but I didn’t think it was that common? I think it is important people know that reinfection is happening, it could be the new strain?

She further explained how, as a nurse, she had undergone regular weekly testing since her first infection and that her results always came back negative until recently:

I’ve had another positive swab recently. I had very mild symptoms which were not like the symptoms I had before. Has anyone else experienced a second positive Covid-19 swab?

Precaution is necessary

Ultimately, the former Love Island star wants her fans to not let the recent vaccine rollout to diminish the amount of precaution they are exercising amid the new surge of COVID-19 cases:

it's quite scary. I knew reinfection did happen but I was not aware it was that common. Clearly, there is another strain of it around. Everyone needs to be extremely careful. Reinfection does happen. Once you've had it, you are not immune to it.

Thankfully, the healthcare worker was on an annual leave when her results came back positive so there was no patient contact.