Doctor: Releasing the quarantine now would mean a third wave and a very rapid closure of the country

L. Griškevičius, who works on the Independent Expert Advisory Council formed by Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, said that the vaccine is the best way to end the pandemic.

“With the advent of vaccination, the arsenal of those measures (ending a pandemic, aut. P.) has expanded significantly. And the vaccine is probably the best way to end a pandemic, since it requires the least amount of resources, but it has its challenges, ”said L. Griškevičius.

To date, 2,415 people have died in the country, with the coronavirus being the main cause of death. About 75 percent of coronavirus-related deaths are in the 70-year-old age group.

“Deaths from coronavirus are quite concentrated. (…) Currently, about 47 thousand people have been vaccinated in Lithuania. Population, which is 1.68 percent of the total population. It is a great achievement,” he said.

At the government meeting, L. Griškevičius said that if Lithuania succeeded in expanding the vaccination process and reaching all those most at risk, mortality from this virus would be significantly reduced.

“The figures say that more than 70 years, residents and employees of healthcare and medical institutions add up to around 300 thousand. A group of people. And that would mean that if around 70 percent of these groups were immune to the coronavirus, the death toll would be cut in half, and if 90 percent were 65 percent, “said the doctor.

At the government meeting, L. Griškevičius also listed additional criteria that would ensure a more secure release from quarantine conditions.

One of them is to vaccinate at least one vaccine at risk for at least one vaccine before March of this year.

He also proposed not to publish the quarantine requirements for now.

“If we now maintain all quarantine measures, we do not make substantial releases from state life, we will achieve a manageable situation in the number of cases. (…) And by that time, we could already have a large part of the public vaccinated with at least one vaccine. It would be possible to start thinking about vaccinating staff returning to educational institutions and students aged 16 and over, “said a representative of the Santara clinics.

Speaking about the need to maintain control of the movement within the country and across borders, L. Griškevičius recalled the lessons learned in the UK. Before Christmas, the quarantine was launched in this country, prompting the appearance of the third wave of coronavirus.

“It was decided to open the country at Christmas and we see a third wave. (…) The early opening, when infection control does not go through another measure, would mean that we will have a third wave and a third very rapid closure of the country, ”said the doctor.

L. Griškevičius also ensured that the largest releases should start in March,

L. Griškevičius also reminded the Government of the alarming strains of the virus. They are registered in South Africa, Brazil and the United Kingdom. And the release of measures in Lithuania, according to the doctor, would also mean that more compatriots would like to return to the country. They could also accidentally bring into the country a dangerous strain of the virus, which has not yet been registered in Lithuania.

Delphi Remember that the quarantine in Lithuania is currently valid until January 31st. Prime Minister I. Šimonytė said on Monday that possible attenuations in the near future could be related only to “social bubbles”, when people living alone and another household can communicate, and the possibility that children in difficulties learn remotely from the school premises.

The group of experts also supported the idea of ​​maintaining the same movement restrictions between municipalities, as well as the same regime for the service sector.

However, it is suggested that the issue of inter-municipal movements still needs to be adjusted.