Gloomy record for deaths, while two new variants create concern.
All doubt is now swept off the track: The fourth wave of infection has become the one with the highest infection pressure so far in the pandemic. In week 45, 11,773 cases of infection with the coronavirus were registered in Norway, which is more than 1,500 more than the peak week in the third wave of infection.
At the same time, there is an increase of 20 percent from last week.
The “infection pressure” is 417 per 100,000 among unvaccinated, while it is 123 among fully vaccinated.
– The epidemic continues to increase in scope, especially among unvaccinated children and young people, who to a small extent become seriously ill, but also among the elderly. The number of new admissions with covid-19 as the main cause continues to rise, but to a somewhat lesser extent than in previous weeks. Last week, a record number of outbreaks were reported in nursing homes and hospitals, and we also see a clear increase in the number of deaths. Among the oldest, the situation is more serious than it has been during 2021, reports FHI.
New variant can affect immunity
FHI points out that two new variants of the Delta virus are now circulating that appear to be even more contagious:
– AY.4.2, the sub-variant of the delta variant that we in Norway have the most prevalence of in Trøndelag, has now been upgraded by ECDC and is now considered to be a Variant under Investigation (VOI) among delta variants which in itself is a Variant of Concern VOC. This variant appears to have an infectious advantage over other delta variants. There is also an ongoing spread of the delta variant with a potentially important mutation that can affect immunity, S:E484Q, in Viken, FHI writes in its weekly report.
Growth in all groups
The infection now seems to be spreading in a much wider section of the population than before, with growth in all age groups.
And the arrows are still pointing upwards: On Tuesday, a new record was set for a single day, when as many as 2552 cases of infection were registered.
According to FHI, the reproduction rate is now assumed to be around 1.3.
More and more people also end up in hospitals
There is also a significant increase in the number of covid patients who end up in hospital.
158 new patients have so far been reported in week 45, after 144 in week 44. The figures for last week are expected to be adjusted upwards. There has been an increasing trend in the age group ≥65 years in the last five weeks, with 89 new patients admitted in week 45 compared with 30 in week 41, and the number in the age group ≥65 years is now the highest registered in 2021, reports NIPH.
At the same time, the number of new patients is falling on the intensive care unit:
– There are currently reports of 24 new patients admitted to the intensive care unit in week 45, after 33 in week 44.
60 percent in hospitals are fully vaccinated
The trend of fully vaccinated in hospitals continues:
Vaccination status was available for 151 new patients admitted with covid-19 as the main cause in week 45. Of these, 57 (38%) were unvaccinated and 90 (60%) were fully vaccinated. In recent weeks, there has been an increase in incidence, especially in those over 75 years and for unvaccinated 45-64 years. Among 514 fully vaccinated hospitalized with covid-19 as the main cause until now, the median age is 77 years (lower – upper quartile: 65-84), and 398 (77%) belong to risk groups with a high or moderate risk of severe course of covid-19, reports FHI.
– High vaccination coverage helps to slow down, but not stop the spread of infection. With a high spread of infection in society, the virus still finds its way to those who are at risk of serious progression and hospitalization, the unvaccinated and the elderly. It is necessary to remind all unvaccinated adults that vaccination can protect them from serious illness. The refresher dose for the oldest vaccinated will hopefully protect them further, and the municipalities must carry out this vaccination as soon as possible. In addition, health professionals around these elderly people must be offered a refreshing dose to further reduce the risk of infection to patients, FHI points out.
Highest number of deaths in 2021
FHI also reports an increase in deaths:
– The number of weekly deaths has been increasing in the last four weeks. 38 covid-19 associated deaths have so far been registered in week 45 after 31 in week 44. In the last 4 weeks, the median age of the dead was 82 years (lower-upper quartile: 76-90 years). The number of deaths in week 45 is the highest registered in 2021. In the last two weeks, the number of deaths at nursing homes and similar institutions has more than doubled, and there are now more deaths at such institutions than in hospitals.
The number of deaths is the highest recorded in 2021.
Nakstad: – Infection rates lead to increasing hospitalizations
– This shows that the increase we see in infection rates leads to increasing hospitalizations. In addition, nursing homes have an increasing load and many employees are at home due to respiratory disease. It is therefore important to reverse the infection trend so that the health service has a better capacity to treat other patients as well as covid-19 patients, says assistant health director Espen Nakstad to Nettavisen.
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