In the absence of confirmed cases of reinfection by SARS-CoV-2, the duration of immune protection elicited after initial infection is still unknown. This preprint describes a longitudinal analysis of antibody responses in 65 SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. Although the magnitude of neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses correlated with disease severity, there was a rapid decline in nAb titres in most patients within 3 months after onset of symptoms. The authors argue that the transient nAb responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 resemble those observed following seasonal coronavirus infections. However, the consequences on secondary immune responses and their ability to prevent reinfection remain to be determined.