Professor Kasiulevičius: Quarantine restrictions are necessary at least until mid-April

“The causes and consequences. In the slides below, four countries (Ireland, UK, Czech Republic and Lithuania) are rampant with different strains of SARS-CoV-2, but the scenarios are similar and the effective drugs are the same.

We release the restrictions, we get a new leap in the disease. And new strains of the virus are spreading even faster, so more effort is needed to control their spread. We restrict our movement, spend less time in meetings, fewer illnesses, fewer excessive deaths, and at the same time avoid overloading the healthcare system even with new strains of viruses that are prevalent. This is also demonstrated by the data from the United Kingdom and Ireland: governments have taken action again, the movement of people to meeting places has decreased, the situation is beginning to stabilize, ”wrote the professor.

He suggested noting that despite all the restrictions, the industry works, contactless companies work, electricity consumption is reduced very minimally, and in companies where the same people and employers meet regularly, shifts can be separated, ensuring a minimal contact, provide workers with protective equipment. and to test them, the sprouts are usually minimal.

“Regular testing, early detection and isolation of sick people can also reduce the number of illnesses. Periodic tests could begin to open up the service sector. But without the introduction of rapid antigen tests or automated PCR test lines in our country, it is hard for me to imagine such a universal test. We still have nothing, “wrote V. Kasiulevičius.

And finally, he added, that the quarantine should be extended until at least mid-April.

Therefore, today we only have one effective measure: the restrictions, they work, and those restrictions are necessary for our country not until January 31, but at least until mid-April, when the UV index and air temperature will start to stop. the spread of infection. Finally, the most vulnerable will be vaccinated in mid-April. And even then it will be possible to speak of liberation, “said V. Kasiulevičius.