A.Veryga hopes to repeat the population survey, bars and cafes will not yet be restricted

From July 10 to September 10, researchers from Lithuania University of Health Sciences and Vilnius University found out how many people in six municipalities in the country (Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipėda, Ukmergė, Tauragė and Zarasai) had coronavirus.

A little more than 21 thousand people were randomly sent to the adult residents of these municipalities. calls for rapid COVID-19 tests. 3,087 people agreed.

Most of the relapse symptoms were not felt

“The preliminary results of the study show significant territorial inequalities in COVID-19 seropositivity: the percentage of the seropositive population ranged from 1.31 in Vilnius to 2.83 in Kaunas. Two thirds of the seropositive subjects did not experience the characteristic symptoms of COVID-19, “the Ministry of Health told the media.

When evaluating the results of the study, M. Stankūnas noted that women were more likely to have COVID-19.

“We see that among women this percentage was 2.3, men was 1.2. The results of our research show that antibodies are more common in women than in men, ”said the researcher at a press conference.

In the age group 18 to 59 years inclusive, the incidence of coronavirus was 2.1 percent. of those surveyed, in the age group 60 and over – 1.6 percent. of all the investigated persons, called M.Stankūnas.

AFP / “Scanpix” nuotr./Greitasis COVID-19 tested

It is true that he emphasized that this difference is not statistically significant.

“Of those who received positive tests, more than a third, 34.5 percent. – have had one or more chronic diseases. At the time of the study, 3.4 percent. Felt the characteristic symptoms from COVID-19, ”said M. Stankūnas.

In addition, according to him, 31.8 percent. subjects who tested positive reported experiencing specific coronavirus symptoms within a couple of months.

M. Stankūnas said that other countries also conduct population surveys on COVID-19. Results from a study in Finland, for example, showed that between 2.5% and 3% of patients were infected with coronavirus. population, 1-10% in Spain.

After conducting a population survey, A.Veryga said that he was waiting for recommendations from scientists. He hoped the investigation could be repeated.

Of course, it would be ideal to repeat that study in the future.

“It would be ideal, of course, to repeat that study in the future and see what is happening now with the second wave that we are experiencing now, and even compare how something has changed,” said the minister.

It was planned to investigate 6.5 thousand people through rapid tests. Lithuanian population, but only about 3,000 achieved it, but A.Veryga affirmed that “we will not achieve a better representation anywhere and we will have to depend on the data where we have it.”

Rapid tests require tests by doctors

M. Stankūnas assured that the sample size of the population survey is sufficient, only that the statistical calculations will be less precise.

Recently, A.Veryga made decisions regarding rapid tests of employees of educational institutions, statutory officials, the Government Chancellery, employees of other institutions or institutions. This is voluntary.

When asked if the research is also carried out for scientific purposes, A.Veryga denied it.

“It just came to our knowledge then. They are not planned according to a scientific methodology, but in a broad sense, I think they will be really interesting for scientists,” he said, although he emphasized that very specific groups are being studied.

“The objective of the investigation is to see what the situation is in these high contact and most vulnerable groups,” added the minister.

M. Stankūnas declared that it would be worth testing the doctors with rapid tests, which the state bought for almost 500 thousand.

The hospitals will receive a reimbursement of about 14 million. euros

At a press conference on Friday, A.Veryga also announced that during the quarantine the country’s hospitals suffered some 14 million. costs and promised that most of them would be reimbursed. The government is expected to make the decision next week.

“The evaluation is complete and the vast majority of those costs are considered eligible. The amount for which compensation was provided is about 14 million. euros and most of those expenses are recognized as eligible expenses, ”said A.Veryga.

The bars and cafes will operate without new restrictions for the moment

Previously, in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 illnesses, the government planned to limit the opening hours of bars, cafes and other catering and entertainment venues, but abandoned these plans when opposed by the Lithuanian Bar and Cafe Association and the Vilnius Night Alliance.

This week, other possible restrictions were discussed with representatives of the Ministry of Health with representatives of restaurants and entertainment venues. So far it has been decided not to change anything.

Photo by Ernesta Čičiurkaitė / 15min / Friday night

“Our experts and specialists met with representatives. It was agreed that so far, while we have a situation without significant changes, without exponential growth, two weeks – without changes, without some additional decisions,” said A.Veryga during the press conference .

One of the first steps would be mandatory visitor registration.

But if the situation changes, he said, the clients of the institutions will have to be registered: “If it turns out that the situation worsens, if we see new chimneys in those places, one of the first steps would be the mandatory registration of visitors, regardless of when the institution is open “.

Last day, 44 new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Lithuania. It was not clear to them how 12 people were infected.

In total, there are currently 1,095 people with coronavirus in the country, and 7,390 people need to be isolated.

READ ALSO: 44 new cases of coronavirus in Lithuania: virus is spreading in Šiauliai county, 12 people are not known to be infected