As the incidence of Covid-19 increases in Latvia, which is associated with the spread of the BA.4 and BA.5 subtypes of the omicron variant of the virus, it is unlikely that staying at home or the so-called “lockdown” could be a solution to limiting the incidence, explained the Ministry of Disease Prevention and Director of the Department of Risk Analysis and Prevention of Infectious Diseases of the Control Center (SPKC) Yuriy Perevoshchikov.
The epidemiologist pointed out that the use of masks in public places could be expanded rather, and some mass events might also be affected.
Perevoshchikov pointed out that in the conditions of the spread of the omicron variant of Covid-19, we should protect risk groups more, which are also recommended the fourth dose of the vaccine against Covid-19, and this can be done while wearing masks, as well as not going about your daily routine with symptoms of the disease, even if they are very mild.
He also assessed that this respite from Covid-19 was very short, and this summer the wave of increase in morbidity started three to four weeks earlier, therefore, if the increase in morbidity continues similarly to last year, then the maximum could be reached around October, the end of October.
The epidemiologist explained that with the omicron variant of the virus, runny nose and fever are observed, but pneumonia is extremely rare, which helps hospitals, because the influx of patients is not as great as it was with previous variants of the virus.
Evaluating the previous failures in the field of combating Covid-19, Perevoshchikovs admitted – during these years, since they have to live with Covid-19, a large part of the population has not been able to convince them why they should wear masks and respirators. People still think that masks are meant to keep them from getting infected, and that’s why they don’t work.
But in fact, they are a means of not infecting others, that is, it is solidarity.
The epidemiologist reminded that the infected person can release the virus two days before symptoms appear, so no one can be sure that they are not infecting others.
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