Teacher: about the coronavirus: we were very happy, we may have to use masks again

Big events are still worrying

Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) prof. skilled. Dr. Infectologist Alvydas Laiškonis told Delfi that, in his opinion, it was possible to continue wearing masks for longer.

“It just came to our attention then. But certainly not, there are many asymptomatic forms. Therefore, I think the masks could still be used. And the organization of larger events, concerts, which have now started, is all happening without masks. I think it also has an impact, – said Professor LSMU.

– There is a possibility that you may have to go back to the masks again. I was especially concerned about major events that did not use protective gear, as if the virus had already disappeared somewhere. “

However, according to prof. R. Laiškonis, so far we cannot draw any conclusions, although there are more infections than usual. However, the number of new infections may continue to rise as large gatherings were organized throughout Lithuania over the long weekend.

“It seems to me that we have moved abruptly. Of course, I am not talking about imported cases that return and walk in society, but only after a while it turns out that they are sick, ”added the professor. A. Laiškonis.

There is very little research

Professor Saulius Čaplinskas, director of the Center for Communicable Diseases and AIDS, has a slightly different opinion. According to prof. S. Čaplinskas, it is now unnecessary to use masks again and universally.

“Predictions that the virus has established itself in the human population have been confirmed. And the fact that it will not go anywhere is also clear. It is equally clear that even in hot climates, the same prevention rules should apply: distance , communication time, hygiene of the surface of the hands, said the interlocutor.

– There is not much need to walk with masks all the time. It is important to use them only when really necessary. It is a longer communication and especially in the health care center. When communicating at home or in a team, it is difficult to wear masks and probably nobody will wear them. ”

According to the professor, it is very important to evaluate those people who have experienced at least the mildest symptoms or are suspected of having been in contact with a potentially infected person who has traveled.

People at risk should wear masks

“No one said that masks were already needed. As I mentioned at the beginning, we will live differently after COVID-19 than before this virus. Therefore, it is beneficial to wear a mask, especially for people at risk and especially when going in and staying there for a longer period of time. In supermarkets, in my personal opinion, a little exaggerated fear when it is announced that if you were in the supermarket that time and that time, you may have had contact because there was an infected person there. It is unlikely that he can become infected after a short pass, even without a mask, said the director of ULAC.

– I don’t think we should go back to the masks again. If the event takes place outdoors and we are not very close to each other, the risk is already reduced. If there is any reception inside, the risk is greater. “

However, as indicated by prof. S. Čaplinskas, it is necessary to carry out as much research as possible.

“It just came to our attention then. I don’t want to be a bad prophet, but if there are circumstances where a person avoids testing because they fear they will be forced to isolate themselves or lose their wages, we will put the problem underground. And then it could be even worse, so it is necessary to test as much as possible and by various means, “said S. Čaplinskas.

Also, according to the interlocutor, the masks can cause even more problems if they are used incorrectly.

“Even when masks were required, it was a matter of human conscience. <...> Also, if we use the same mask for a long time, we keep it in our pocket and the like, it will get wet and to avoid one problem, we can have another one because the fungi will start to reproduce and so on. On the other hand, the use of masks clearly showed a reduction in allergies. Even if the coronavirus doesn’t become very active in the fall, but the cold season begins and we wear masks again when we go to supermarkets and other places, it would be very good, “said the director of ULAC.

According to the professor, the coronavirus remains in the body longer than originally thought. Furthermore, there are currently rumors that the infection persists in the teens’ body for an extremely long time.

“We just realized that it lasted longer than we expected.” It depends on how the immune system responds. Clearly, in adolescents, young and healthy people, immunity responds better and there may be no clinical effects at all. Consequently, the virus can circulate in your body for a longer time, “said S. Čaplinskas.

As Rolanda Lingienė, director of the Vilnius department of the National Center for Public Health (NVSC), told Delfi on Wednesday, there is not much danger yet, but the risk remains. However, a hospital is currently the biggest concern for epidemiologists.

“Currently, the Vilnius Republican Psychiatric Hospital is a cause for concern,” said R. Lingienė, adding that epidemiologists work there daily. – And today, colleagues will see what could be here, because there were cases registered before, but we did not see any epidemiological link, it was not possible to identify them. <...> Now we are explaining what could have caused such a spread. “

After seeing a much smaller number of new cases, R. Lingienė says such statistics are not really gratifying, but that there is still not much concern among epidemiologists.

“We are used to very few cases, so these are not some encouraging numbers, but epidemiologists still don’t see much concern because those cases are manageable.” They are associated with fireplaces, they are easier to handle, easier to disinfect facilities. Out of those 10 cases, we see that this is not a spread in society. We have traced what is related to what and therefore the possibility of breaking the virus’s chain of spread is increasing, ”said R. Lingienė.

3 out of 10 cases were identified in patients of the Vilnius Republican Psychiatric Hospital. Since May. Eight cases were registered in this personal health institution, 4 of them were patients.