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The new year will begin with the sign of the pandemic but with one more hope, that of the vaccine that by the end of 2021 could lead to the much desired herd immunity. In a few days there could be some novelties also from the diagnostic point of view, which could lead to new standards for the definition of a case. He announces it Gianni rezza, General Director of Prevention of the Ministry of Health, aside from the last analysis report of the epidemic, the 33rd since the nightmare of the coronavirus began.
“These days we are working on a circular that changes the definition of the case: The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Ecdc) presents, together with the molecular test, also the antigenic test regarding the confirmation of the case. That is why we are also working on recommendations that substantially change the way antigen testing is used, revising previous recommendations.“Said Rezza. A major change that could streamline the diagnostic supply chain and therefore allow faster communication of cases and consequent improvement of the monitoring system.”Certainly, molecular tests remain the gold standard in terms of sensitivity and specificity. However, antigenic tests offer opportunities because they allow: not to overload laboratories, to have results quickly, to be cheaper and to be repeated over time. So, How screening test repeated in the population, they can be very useful“Gianni Rezza continued.
The director general of Prevention of the Ministry of Health also took stock of the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus, which should begin en masse in the coming weeks. “From the point of view of the organization of the vaccination campaign, the hospital vaccination points have been formalized and the organization that will also be launched with mobile units to vaccinate the elderly residents of the RSA. We are also studying vaccination points for mass immunization of the population, but this will also depend on the type of vaccines that will be available“Rezza explained. The urgency of speeding up vaccination times is becoming increasingly apparent in light of a slight, but present, new growth of infections:”This week in Italy, the RT is increasing slightly, which is set around 0.93. It means that there is a slight increase in the transmission of the infection.“Despite the decline in new infections,”the incidence still remains above 300 cases per 100,000 inhabitants“For this reason, Rezza explains, it is important to continue carrying out measures to contain the contagion, which are still giving results.
