[ad_1]
Vytautas Kasiulevičius, a professor at the Vilnius University Medical Faculty and a family doctor at the Santara Clinics, writes about this on the social network Facebook.
The authors of the memorandum state: “The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome, has infected more than 35 million people worldwide. October 12 WHO has registered more than 1 million deaths. The second wave of Covid-19 has already affected Europe and as winter approaches, we need clear communication on the risks of Covid-19 and an effective strategy to combat this infection. “
SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted by contact (with the help of droplets and aerosols) and, due to the spread of aerosols, the virus travels longer distances, especially with poor ventilation. Its high infectivity, together with the high susceptibility of populations to the new virus, creates the conditions for this infection to spread rapidly in the community. Mortality from COVID-19 is several times higher than seasonal flu, and the infection can persist for a long time in some patients, including previously healthy young people (the so-called “long-term COVID”), the professor writes.
“It is not yet clear how long protective immunity lasts, if SARS-CoV-2 can be re-infected in people who have already had the disease, and the frequency of reinfection is still unknown.
Virus transmission can be mitigated by applying physical distance, using masks, hand and respiratory hygiene, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated areas. Testing, contact clarification, and isolation are also critical to controlling transmission. WHO has been promoting these measures since the beginning of the pandemic.
In the initial phase of the pandemic, many countries introduced strict restrictions – general population restrictions, including instructions to stay at home and work from home – to slow the rapid spread of the virus. These measures were necessary to reduce mortality, prevent the depletion of medical care and “buy” time to establish a response system to a pandemic and stop the transmission of the virus after quarantine. While the restrictions were detrimental to societies, affected physical and mental health, and harmed the economy, the consequences were worse in countries that failed to establish effective pandemic control systems.
These circumstances have undoubtedly demoralized people and reduced confidence in the measures taken. The second wave and the implementation of the challenges ahead are prompting people to re-engage in a “herd immunity” strategy that proposes not preventing an outbreak in low-risk populations while protecting vulnerable people. Proponents of “herd immunity” argue that this would guarantee the immunity of the population acquired through infection in low-risk groups and ultimately protect vulnerable people.
This is a dangerous lie that is not confirmed by scientific data. Any strategy for managing a pandemic based on innate immunity is flawed. The uncontrolled spread of infection in younger populations increases morbidity and mortality rates in the general population. In addition to the human costs, this would affect all workers and overwhelm the ability of health systems to provide routine and emergency medical care. Furthermore, there is no evidence of long-term protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after natural infection, and endemic transmission as a consequence of decreased immunity would pose an indefinite risk to vulnerable populations in the future.
Such a strategy would not end the COVID-19 pandemic, but it would lead to recurring epidemics, as has been the case for many infectious diseases in the past, even before vaccination begins. It would also place an unacceptable burden on the economy and healthcare workers, many of whom have already died of COVID-19 or suffered health problems as a result of having to rescue sick people.
It is very important to act decisively and urgently. Effective measures to curb and control the spread of the virus must be widely implemented, supported by financial and social programs that encourage community action, while addressing inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic.
It is likely that restrictions will need to be maintained in the near future to reduce the spread of the infection and put inefficient pandemic response systems in place to avoid future quarantines. The goal of these limitations is to effectively and efficiently suppress SARS-CoV-2 infection, rapidly detect and respond to local outbreaks by locating, investigating, monitoring, and building strong support systems so life can return to life. an almost normal course without major restrictions.
The protection of our economy is inextricably linked to the government from COVID-19. We need to protect our workforce and avoid long-term uncertainty.
Japan, Vietnam, and New Zealand have shown that a strong public response can control the spread of the infection and allow life to return to a near-normal pace, and there are many such success stories. The evidence is very clear: controlling the spread of COVID-19 is the best way to protect our society and economy until safe and effective vaccines and drugs are developed in the coming months. We cannot afford distractions that undermine an effective response; It is very important to act promptly on the basis of evidence.
I signed “, reports V. Kasiulevičius.
[ad_2]
