Experts are advocating for the wearing of masks in the face of the increase in COVID-19 and the flu on the island

With less than three weeks to Christmas, the increase in cases of COVID-19 and other respiratory conditions deserve the return of protective measures imposed in the past, such as the mandatory use of masks, recommend the experts consulted by this journal, who also emphasized vaccination to prevent deaths and complications caused by many of these viruses.

“People have lost respect for COVID because many of the people who are dying are 75 or older and they find it more acceptable (because of the fragility of that population).”commented Dr. Fernando Cabanillas.

At the beginning of the pandemic, the oncologist highlighted, many young people died and this scared many.

“They no longer pay attention to it, but four to five people die a day (on average), mostly elderly people who have not completed their vaccination (against COVID-19)”lament.

The Department of Health on Wednesday it reported six more deaths from COVID-19, four females and two males. Of these, none had up-to-date vaccinations, five were over the age of 81 and the sixth was 51.

Given this situation, Cabanillas stressed that wearing masks indoors should again be mandatory, except in restaurants. He also urged Health to launch a stronger guidance campaign on the bivalent vaccine, designed to protect against the parent variant of COVID-19 and the omicron variant.

He also stressed that people should resume social distancing and avoid “hugging and kissing” at Christmas parties, as well as insisting on hand washing. The situation, you stressed, deserves the government to act on it.

Infectologist Javier Morales agreed on the importance of vaccination.

“There are three infections that attack the same organ, the lungs. We have COVID, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)”She said.

The bivalent vaccine, he stressed, covers the omicron, the predominant strain.

“Of the patients I see and interview, I notice that people are hopeful they have the booster (of the COVID-19 vaccine), but the bivalent is a new vaccine against COVID. People are confused. We have to carry out an educational campaign,” Morales said.

“There is a false perception that three COVID vaccines are enough, but the protection is low and the bivalent one is needed,” underlined the infection specialist Iris Velázquez.

Simultaneous infections with more than one respiratory virus, such as COVID-19 with influenza or RSV, have resulted in increased hospitalizations, Morales said. Many complications, he stressed, could be avoided if more people updated their vaccinations.

The danger, he stressed, is that current treatment against COVID-19 relies only on antiviral drugs, since monoclonal antibody treatments were withdrawn by the federal government last month after they were found to be ineffective against the subvariants BQ.1 and BQ .1.1 omicrons.

“If this continues, there will be no choice but to ask for (the wearing of) masks, once again. With three viruses running simultaneously, there is no other choice”Morales reiterated.

Infectiousologists Miguel Colón and Sanet Torres agreed that the responsibility to protect oneself from COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses lies with each other.

“We are adults and people know what to do. I don’t think people should be locked up again because that doesn’t solve anything,” Torres said, regarding the implementation of the imprisonments.

Still, people shouldn’t leave their homes sick, Torres said. Faced with symptoms such as cough, nasal congestion and fever, the infection specialist stressed that one must act as if one were infected with one of these viruses and take measures not to infect others.

Torres urged people to keep their distance from others, wear masks indoors, prefer outdoor activities and have up-to-date immunizations. He stressed that if the increase in cases continues, the picture will be much worse in January.

“It has come to the point where people have to take responsibility for their decisions. And the government must campaign more aggressively in all media on vaccination,” Colón said for his part.

The infectious disease specialist stressed that the campaign should guide and educate about the bivalent vaccine, as well as insist on the use of masks indoors and in conglomerates. Also, she said, hand washing to prevent infection.

Before the usual

Colón recalled that the complexity of the current scenario is due to the fact that flu infections have skyrocketed earlier than usual. The flu season starts in July and ends in June.

“The flu numbers are brutal, out of control. In United States of America, there are already more cases of flu than in the last decade, and it’s only November. The flu epidemic this year will be brutal,” express Colombo.

According to Health, through Nov. 26 in Puerto Rico Influenza cases this 2022-23 season (8,835) already exceed those of the previous season (6,493). Flu hospitalizations (461) this year are also on track to surpass last year’s (484).

“Many Americans will spend Christmas here and bring the flu. And the flu vaccination rate in Puerto Rico is on the floor”, She said. As of Dec. 4 this 2022-2023 season, 310,952 flu shots were given, according to data from Health.

“The (formulation of) the flu vaccine (against the virus) changes every year and this year’s is very good,” said infectious disease specialist Velázquez.

The low vaccination rate and the fact that many no longer wear masks, he said, have contributed to the increase in infections.

He recalled that the flu vaccine is recommended from six months of age and commented that the rapid test against this virus is not very sensitive, so it is necessary to examine the patient’s symptoms.

For the second day in a row, Salud did not respond to a request from this newspaper on Wednesday about the actions the government is considering taking in the face of rising cases of COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses.