“There is currently a discussion that the age limit should be lowered – maybe to 12 years, and possibly to give up tests. So far, no decisions have been made, but discussions are really taking place, ”L.Ašoklienė said to BNS.
According to her, the passport of opportunities not only allowed not to close down activities, but also contributed to the management of the pandemic. True, it has some drawbacks.
“Our opportunity passport has both regular testing and serological testing for antibodies, as well as no expiration date for vaccinated individuals, at a time when some countries have introduced expiration dates. However, from the point of view of epidemiological risk, it seems to me that the biggest risk is that the opportunity passport is issued from the age of 16, although vaccination is possible from the age of 12, ”the chief epidemiologist explained.
According to her, this group of children is “large and risky”.
Pandemic peak prediction does not take
According to L.Ašoklienė, currently the pandemic situation is poor not only in Lithuania, but also in Europe.
“It simply came to our notice then. The number of cases continues to grow, and we have certainly not yet reached the peak of this wave. In the next week, we will see the effect of Tardiness, which may aggravate the situation, ”said the epidemiologist.
According to her, it is difficult to predict the peak of a pandemic, because everything will depend on people’s behavior.
“Another difficult period is approaching, the Christmas period, which we will have to go through. “Preparing for Christmas, various events, meetings are factors that can negatively affect the situation,” she explained.
According to L.Ašoklienė, although slightly lower morbidity rates have been recorded in recent days than in previous weeks, this may be related to the effect of public holidays, when people are tested less.
A third quarantine is also possible
With the deteriorating epidemiological situation, the second universal quarantine was introduced in Lithuania exactly a year ago. And while morbidity rates are currently about four times higher, there is no rush to announce another quarantine.
Last year, on November 1, the 14-day morbidity rate was 100 thousand. the population reached 340 cases, this year – 1442 cases. The situation is similar in terms of bed occupancy – about half a thousand last year and almost 2 thousand. this year.
“Currently, we have the main weapon – vaccines, so people are encouraged to get vaccinated so that they do not get sick, and even if they do get it, the disease is mild. We are also currently seeing a stable situation in the resuscitation wards, although about one and a half hundred beds are occupied, they are not filling up so quickly, ”L.Ašoklienė explained.
According to her, despite the protection of vaccines, the situation is worse this year, because the world is dominated by a more contagious delta variety, as well as “pandemic fatigue” – people are more careless about hand hygiene and wearing masks.
“The effectiveness of the vaccines themselves decreases over time, so we need to talk about the importance of a booster dose,” the epidemiologist said.
However, L.Ašoklienė emphasized that quarantine could be introduced if the situation in hospitals deteriorates, but it would not be long-term.
“If it were, it would probably be a very limited time to achieve a positive effect. “… It depends a lot on the employment of resuscitation beds – if those numbers change and exceed 200, approach 250, it seems that more radical measures are needed to protect the health system,” she said.
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