Crossing the line: we are already the third in Europe in terms of coronavirus incidence

Furthermore, there are already two people in the age group of 30-39 who have died from COVID-19 in Lithuania. This only shows that in Lithuania not only the elderly die from coronavirus.

We have surpassed Poland, the Czech Republic and Spain

ECDC As of December 2, the two-week morbidity rate in Lithuania is already 993 cases per 100,000. population, the mortality rate is 8.9 cases, respectively.

According to the morbidity rate in the group of countries of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and United Kingdom (United Kingdom), only Luxembourg surpasses us, where the morbidity rate at two weeks reaches 1209 cases per every 100 thousand. population, with a mortality rate of 13.8 and Croatia, with a morbidity rate of 1861 and a mortality rate of 18.4 per 100,000 population, respectively. population.

Recently, the alarm bells due to the high incidence of the COVID-19 disease also called our neighbor Poland. But now we are far ahead of our southern neighbors in terms of morbidity.

The two-week morbidity rate in Poland is 650.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. It is true that mortality from coronavirus has recently been one of the highest in Europe, with 17.8 cases.

In Latvia and Estonia, the incidence is currently three times lower than in Lithuania. Latvia has a two-week morbidity rate of 352.8 cases, a mortality rate of 4.1, Estonia a morbidity rate of 337 cases, and a mortality rate of 2.8 cases per 100,000 population.

In Spain, the incidence has also been reduced to 312 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, as in the more recent Czech Republic. In the latter country, the morbidity rate is 551.2 cases and the mortality rate is 17.4 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants.

Most die in Bulgaria

The highest mortality rate is found in Bulgaria: up to 25.4 cases per 100,000. population. Slovenia ranks second in terms of mortality and Croatia third.

The lowest incidence rate is found in Iceland, with 55.5 cases per 100,000 cases. population. Ireland also has a low morbidity rate of 83.8 cases per 100,000 population and Finland with 105.4 cases per 100,000 population.

The lowest death rates from coronavirus are found in Finland with 0.5, Iceland with 0.6 and Norway with 0.7.

4 times more cases were confirmed in November than in October

According to the National Center for Public Health (NVSC), in November there was an intensive spread of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) in society, with 44,000 confirmed cases from November 2 to 29. 818 cases, four times more than in October and twenty-five times more than in September. The data collected during the epidemiological investigation shows that in November, a significant part of the case structure is made up of cases related to infections in families, at work, as well as in treatment and supportive care institutions. At that time, more than a third of the people who were confirmed to be infected in November could not indicate where they were infected.

It is the number of cases in which the circumstances of the infection cannot be determined that is of greatest concern to professionals. In July, there were 18% of such cases, in August – 19%, in September – 20%, in October – 25%, in November – even 38%. (November 2 to 29). This means that the risk of contracting a coronavirus infection is now high in all places where people come into contact with people, especially indoors.

According to Robertas Petraitis, director of NVSC, the increasing trend in the number of cases in which we cannot find a source of infection and isolate it illustrates the seriousness of the situation.

“This is a serious sign that the virus is circulating in different settings and we cannot assess the situation as we could in the spring or summer, when we clearly tracked where people were infected, they had local outbreaks controlled in treatment, supportive care , nursing homes. Currently, the proportion of untraceable cases is high, indicating a significant prevalence of the disease in society. Generally speaking, we now see a situation where the virus can enter our environment even after of a brief conversation with a colleague at work, without the use of personal protective equipment, ”says R. Petraitis.

Almost a quarter of the families were infected

Evaluation of the general structure of cases by infection sites, about 3% people were infected with the coronavirus in November in educational institutions, that is, kindergartens and schools. The number of cases in educational institutions may have decreased due to the pause of face-to-face education, as well as the introduction of the coeducational method and the use of teleworking in parents’ workplaces.

The number of cases of infection in families and the number of cases of infection in the workplace are correlated. It is estimated that the virus circulates in a circle that includes educational institutions and workplaces through relatives. In general, the infection reaches families of different social origins and continues to spread to other social settings where members of those families work, study or visit.

It is estimated that almost a quarter of all people with COVID-19 confirmed their infection in families in November. At that time, outbreaks of infection in the workplace were associated with just over 22 percent. cases.

It is important to highlight that the data from epidemiological studies show that the infection in treatment, nursing and care facilities where COVID-19 outbreaks are registered usually comes from the social environment of the workers, with links to the social environment of their relatives.

This suggests that the extent to which families successfully cope with an infection when one of the family members has a risk contact or becomes infected has a significant impact on the spread of infection in the country today. Compared to the first wave of infection, it is observed that during the second wave, and especially in November, the principles of isolation become extremely difficult to follow when a case of infection is detected in families.

It can be seen that family members often live with the sick, not properly isolated. The same trend is observed in other European countries. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has already commented on this, most recently on November 18. The recommendations of the guidelines state that isolation of family members is recommended, even if they are only so-called “contact contacts”.

Although the proportion of infection-related infections (7.2%) in the overall structure of infection sites also remains significant, experts believe that the risk of spreading the virus in treatment facilities is lower than in society based on preventive testing by staff and patients. Infection control measures that help prevent the spread of the disease.

The route of spread of the virus is not exclusive

According to Rolanda Lingienė, head of the Vilnius department of the NVSC, the data collected by epidemiologists allows us to see the path of the virus spread. In Lithuania, it is not as unique as in the rest of the world.

“The data collected by the specialists shows that it is not possible to distinguish certain activities or specific areas where the risk of infection would be assessed as low. However, in epidemiological research, we clearly identify the priorities on which we must focus. These are jobs, educational institutions and, of course, families. Of course, the virus spreads especially easily indoors, and only the specific application of integrated measures is essential to prevent the spread of the disease. We have to understand that until there is a vaccine, we have the only way: to take care of ourselves and thus protect our loved ones, ”says R. Lingienė.

Regarding the number of cases investigated, of the total cases detected in November, 4,520 cases (that is, 10%) were not investigated. The absolute majority of them are 4036 cases or 90%. – not investigated because the NVSC does not have the contact details of these people and cannot contact you.

The NVSC also notes that the information provided to the public that the NVSC has not investigated cases since the summer is false: the NVSC provides information on a daily basis about epidemiological investigations carried out and their results. At that time, detailed descriptions of each case of infection were provided to the public on a daily basis until October, with details of the epidemiological study, that is, how the person was infected, how many people had been exposed to the risk and other significant circumstances.