Thousands of scientists warn: dangerous lie about coronavirus is spreading

The authors of the memorandum state: “The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the causative agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome, has infected more than 35 million people worldwide. October 12 WHO has registered more than 1 million deaths. The second wave of COVID-19 has already affected Europe and as winter approaches, we need clear communication on the risks of COVID-19 and an effective strategy to combat this infection, ”quoted the document on Facebook Vytautas Kasiulevičius , professor at the Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine and family doctor at the Santara Clinics.

At the same time, he points out that SARS-CoV-2 spreads by contact (with the help of droplets and aerosols) and that the virus travels longer distances due to the spread of aerosols, especially with poor ventilation. Its high infectivity, together with the high susceptibility of populations to the new virus, creates the conditions for this infection to spread rapidly in the community. Mortality from COVID-19 is several times higher than seasonal influenza, and the infection can persist for a long time in some patients, including previously healthy young people (the so-called ‘long-term COVID’).

“It is not yet clear how long protective immunity lasts, if SARS-CoV-2 can be re-infected in people who have already had the disease, and the frequency of reinfection is still unknown.

Virus transmission can be mitigated by applying physical distance, using masks, hand and respiratory hygiene, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated areas. Testing, contact clarification, and isolation are also critical to controlling transmission. WHO has been promoting these measures since the beginning of the pandemic ”, V. Kasiulevičius drew attention to the key theses.

Defenders of herd immunity have no scientific basis

The professor’s note notes that in the initial phase of the pandemic, many countries introduced strict restrictions – general population restrictions, including instructions to stay at home and work from home – to slow the rapid spread of the virus. According to the scientists who signed the memorandum, this was necessary to reduce mortality, prevent depletion of medical care and buy time to establish a pandemic response system to stop the transfer after quarantine.

“While the restrictions have disrupted societies, affected physical and mental health and damaged the economy, the consequences have been worse in countries that have failed to implement effective pandemic control systems.”

This has led to widespread demoralization and undermined public confidence. The second wave and the implementation of the challenges ahead have led people to re-engage in so-called herd immunity, which proposes not preventing an outbreak of infection in low-risk populations while protecting vulnerable people. Proponents of herd immunity argue that this would guarantee the acquired immunity of the population in low-risk groups and ultimately protect vulnerable people.

This is a dangerous lie that is not confirmed by scientific data. Any strategy for managing a pandemic based on innate immunity is flawed. The uncontrolled spread of infection in younger populations increases morbidity and mortality rates in the general population. In addition to the human costs, this would affect the entire workforce and overwhelm the ability of health care systems to provide routine and emergency medical care. In addition, there is no evidence of long-term protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 after natural infection, and endemic transmission, which would be a consequence of decreased immunity, would represent an undefined risk for vulnerable groups in the future ”, quoted V. Kasiulevičius.

According to the researchers, such a strategy would not end the COVID-19 pandemic, but would lead to recurring epidemics, as has been the case for many infectious diseases in the past, even before vaccination begins. It would also place an unacceptable burden on the economy and healthcare workers, many of whom have already died of COVID-19 or suffered health problems as a result of having to rescue sick people.