[ad_1]
He talks about COVID-19, about the start of the new school year, but also about the ironies of fate. In July, one of the children of the representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Bulgaria contracted coronavirus. Dr. Skender Sila exclusively in an interview for “Wake up”.
92 new cases of COVID-19
Dr. Sila, do students have to go back to school on September 15 and do their parents have to go back to work?
As you know, COVID-19 disrupted the learning process around the world. 1.6 billion children did not enter the classroom during the quarantine. And this caused huge side effects. Now is the time to ensure the safe return of children to school. Each country must carefully assess the epidemiological situation and make the necessary preparations together with teachers, parents, students.
Many parents and teachers fear the beginning of the school year. And they ask: who will control the use of masks, who will control disinfection?
Yes, this is a time of excitement, of uncertainty, because the school year is different from all the others so far. But it is possible with good coordination at all levels. It is important that the guidelines and protocols developed by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and other authorities are explained very clearly to parents, students and school authorities to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
Pediatrician: children under 5 years old should not wear masks
But we have seen that in some countries, such as France and Spain, the school year has started off with a false start. There were many problems.
Schools are not isolated from society. For this reason, as I mentioned at the beginning, the local health authorities must very clearly evaluate the epidemiological situation in the country. The spread of the infection in Bulgaria is the same as in the world. In some municipalities, in some regions, the number of infected is higher, in others, lower. So we must be willing to step back. If the situation worsens, the training should take another form, online, to reduce the risk of spreading the infection.
Imagine the following situation: a student or teacher is infected at school. How should we proceed?
First, it is convenient to clarify if there are symptoms. If a student, teacher, or technical staff is infected. Whether Kovid or not, he shouldn’t go to school. The first step is to consult a family doctor, with the jeep, to find out if it is a covid, flu or another infection. And the school coordinator should contact the local authorities and inform them. They will decide what to do, whether to isolate the class or a particular group.
I think it will be very difficult to explain to students that they have to wear masks in class and to teachers that they have to wear helmets. Is it necessary at all costs?
Again, it depends on the epidemiological situation in the country. How responsible is the class, can you observe the distance? But the last word is with the local health authorities and the Ministry of Education. WHO and UNICEF have developed a global manual that clearly states at what age a mask should be worn, in what situation and how. But masks are only one side of things. We need to wash our hands regularly. The ventilation system in the classrooms should also be checked every hour. Air conditioners, if any. And keeping the distance. And do everything possible to prevent students from different classes from mixing, because this can lead to the spread of the virus if we have an infected one.
Why did the World Health Organization recommend masks for children over 12 years of age? And for those under 12?
Let me clarify. The WHO and UNICEF have recommended that children over 12 years of age wear masks. Why did we do it? Because the data we have so far shows that children over the age of 12 can become infected and spread the virus. But they can also wear masks correctly, even without the careful control of adults. Because they are growing and they understand.
Some parents fear that their children may be infected at school, and when they return home they will infect their grandparents.
You have to be careful with your grandparents. Even at home, children should keep their distance, not hug them. But let’s see how the year begins.
Are smokers less at risk than COVID-19?
Tell me about your personal experience. She has two children, ages 24 and 22, one of whom contracted COVID this summer.
Unfortunately, it happened in early July, my wife and I were in Bulgaria, and my two children were in Kosovo, where they live with my father. One of them called me on the phone and I realized that he was not feeling well. He wanted to downplay the situation and said it was nothing special, only his body hurt. I insisted on doing a test. And if it’s positive, isolate yourself so you don’t put your grandfather and your coworkers at risk. He was tested the next day and it turned out to be COVID positive. It was not an easy situation. I myself, who am involved in the problem, know that younger and healthier people fight infection easily, but there is never a 100 percent guarantee. We also see young people in intensive care units with respirators. And this image comes to mind. My wife and I returned to our homeland. We were close to him, but we isolated him on one floor. It had a separate bathroom, we fed it through the terrace, we had no direct contact. I’m happy that it passed without any side effects. But most importantly, do not infect others.
What symptoms were there? What medications were you taking?
Fortunately, she had mild symptoms, she lost taste, her body ached. She had a fever for only one day, but no other respiratory symptoms. His legs ached for 3-4 days. After the fifth, sixth day, he began to feel good. But we wanted to be safe, so we isolated him for 14 days. Then repeat the test, it was negative. Regarding the treatment, he only took painkillers, Paracetamol, nothing else. He had an appetite, although he had no taste. And he got over it.
What has changed since June, when we last saw each other? At that time, the number of infected people and deaths in Bulgaria was significantly lower..
It is paradoxical that in the Western Balkan countries we had an increase in cases during the summer, especially in July and August. And when the number of infected people increases, we can expect an increase in deaths. But if we look at the total number of deaths, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere condolences to those who lost their loved ones to COVID-19, Bulgaria is in the rank of other European countries. But it is too early to draw conclusions. Because the pandemic is not over yet.
Do you expect a new boom in October, as predicted by the president of the World Health Organization? And what will happen when the seasonal flu hits us?
As winter approaches, more and more people will gather indoors, so it is very important to avoid crowded places, keep at a distance, wear masks, observe hygiene. These are measures that we must follow until a safe and effective vaccine appears. Another measure that I would recommend is that as many people as possible, especially the elderly and people who have had the coronavirus, get vaccinated against the seasonal flu so that we do not double the incidence.
Oxford Coronavirus Vaccine Testing Resumed
Is the vaccine that magic key, the solution?
Scientists around the world are working hard to find it, but it takes a lot of work. Someday we will have a vaccine.
When? When in Bulgaria?
It is not known exactly when, now several research institutes and vaccine manufacturers are entering the final phase. But the vaccine must be tested in thousands of patients around the world. WHO will only approve a COVID vaccine when we have scientific data and clear evidence that it is safe and effective. We expect the vaccine to be available in the country in the second or third quarter of next year.
Will it be free in Bulgaria, as Professor Kantardzhiev and Dr. Kunchev promised?
Bulgaria is making great efforts to ensure access to a vaccine. The richest countries will give more money and will access the vaccine without any difficulty. That is why we call for international solidarity, because, as the director general of the organization said, nationalism in vaccines is not the answer.
If we have a COVID vaccine, will you get it in public?
Obviously yes. Vaccines are the best way to protect people from infectious diseases. Millions of people and children around the world are saved each year through immunization and vaccination.
Prof. Angelov: Doctors work at the limit of human capacities (VIDEO)
And do you still believe that Bulgaria is doing well and that our approach to fighting COVID is correct?
Bulgaria has tried to do everything possible to save people’s lives, but unfortunately the virus has caused very difficult situations in most countries, even those with a developed healthcare system. We know what the situation was like in Italy, Spain, France, Great Britain, the United States. And if we take into account all the factors, the demographic situation in Bulgaria, because Bulgaria has a high percentage of infected older people, I think your country is doing very well.
When will COVID-19 be defeated? The head of the World Health Organization expects the crisis to continue until 2021.
It is difficult to predict exactly when, but as Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge said, we will defeat the virus, not when we have an effective vaccine, but when we learn to live responsibly with it.
READ ALL ABOUT CORONAVIRUS IN OUR COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD HERE
Subscribe FREE to the nova.bg newsletter HEREto receive the most important news of the day in your email.
[ad_2]
