There is a rapid increase in deaths from coronavirus: Professor explained why

It has been said for some time that a weaker strain of coronavirus is now circulating. However, Professor Aurelija Žvirblienė, head of the Department of Immunology and Cell Biology at the Institute of Biotechnology at Vilnius University, said there was no scientific evidence that the virus was weakened.

Three deaths a day

As mentioned, this Wednesday, September 14, it was reported that the coronavirus had claimed the lives of three more people in Lithuania. Thus, the number of deaths from this infection increased to 109.

The National Public Health Center (NVSC) reported that the first death was recorded in Kaunas County. One person in the age group 60 to 69 died. He had chronic illnesses. The coronavirus was confirmed in one person on October 6. During the epidemiological diagnosis of the outbreak, specialists were unable to determine how the person was infected. However, it is assumed that the deceased could have been infected during the trip to Italy.

A Vilnius County resident in the age group 70-79 also died of coronavirus. The coronavirus was confirmed on September 27. This person became infected with coronavirus after having contact with another infected person.

The third case of death from coronavirus was registered in Šiauliai county. This person belonged to the age group 80-89 and had chronic diseases. The coronavirus was confirmed on September 19. During the epidemiological diagnosis, a person was found to be infected with coronavirus after contact with a sick family member.

Two people in the age group 80 to 89, both chronically ill, were also reported to have died of coronavirus on Tuesday. One of them became infected with coronavirus after contact with a sick relative, the circumstances of the other infection could not be determined.

The circumstances of the infection of the third deceased, whose death the NVSC announced on Tuesday, are also unclear. This Kaunas County resident is only known to be in the age group 70-79 and suffering from chronic illnesses. The coronavirus was confirmed on October 12.

On October 6, the coronavirus claimed up to 5 lives. The record for deaths in Lithuania was six months ago, on April 10. 6 people died of coronavirus that day.

Mortality has increased considerably in Europe

The coronavirus also claims many lives in other countries. In neighboring Poland, for example, 62 deaths were recorded on October 13 and up to 75 on October 7. This is the highest death toll in the country since the pandemic began. A total of 3,000 people died from coronavirus in Poland. 279 people.

Russia also recorded the highest number of coronavirus deaths on October 13 during the entire pandemic period: 244. Until then, the coronavirus claimed the most lives on May 29. Then 232 people died.

In the Czech Republic, which is currently the country most affected by the coronavirus in the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom (United Kingdom), the largest increase in deaths from COVID-19 is It occurred on October 12, when the coronavirus claimed 55 lives. On October 9, 53 people died from the disease in the Czech Republic.

According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the two-week death rate in the Czech Republic is currently the highest in the EU, EEA and the UK. It reaches 4.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and the morbidity rate jumped to 521.5 cases per 100,000.

143 deaths were reported in the UK on October 13. This is the highest number of deaths since August. It is true that in April the country was much more affected by the coronavirus. Then there were a thousand and more deaths every day.

I noticed the morbidity

Lithuanian scientists are not surprised by this increase in deaths. It is said to be in line with the increase in morbidity, which is now much higher than in April.

“I think the number of deaths is related to the number of infected people and you probably shouldn’t be surprised by that. If there are more than 100 new people infected each day, of course there are more deaths, ”explained Professor A. Žvirblienė.

But isn’t the virus weakened now? The interlocutor replied: “There is no such scientific evidence that the virus is now weakened. There were only such hopes that maybe fewer deaths, but it was only because the youngsters got sicker. And if they get old and have comorbidities, then they get worse, as they were during the first wave. Mortality is neither higher nor lower now than it was in the spring. “

The professor could not answer whether colds exacerbate the effects of the coronavirus: “I don’t know if such data is available. One can only think that if one infection begins and another begins, it becomes difficult for the immune system to fight on two fronts. There are other injuries: upper respiratory tract, lungs. Of course, it is more difficult to fight two viruses than one, but there is no scientific evidence. “