Veryga: certain mutations observed in virus, quarantine decisions are being prepared

Positive results from the quarantine have yet to be seen, with 1,109 new cases of COVID-19 and 11 deaths from coronavirus reported on Tuesday.

A. Veryga, Chief Specialist of the Infectious Disease Management Division of the National Center for Public Health (NVSC) Daiva Razmuvienė and Chief of the Division of Specialized Medical Care of the Ministry of Health (SAM), spoke in detail at the press conference Tuesday on the situation of the prevalence of the coronavirus in Lithuania and other relevant topics. Inga Cechanovičienė, coordinator of the organization of medical institutions and health care services for the provision of coronavirus.

Tissue anxiety is justified

Veryga said that he had recently spoken by phone with the Danish ambassador. According to the minister, he heard alarming signals.

“Based on the data that has been presented and presented, certain mutations in the virus are being monitored and human infections with tissues have been identified. Denmark has taken really very strict measures, millions of these fur animals will be put to sleep in the country. Strict quarantine measures are being taken in the region.

We have received some knowledge from the World Health Organization that more countries may have problems.

Tomorrow resolutions are prepared to change the quarantine for the Government. It will be proposed to introduce a mandatory 14-day isolation for arrivals from Denmark. Similar isolation could be offered to arrivals from other countries with similar problems, such as Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. If the information does not change until tomorrow and it is confirmed that there are similar problems with the spread in tissue farms in these countries, “said the minister.

Quarantine Outlook

Veryga doubted the quarantine could be lifted. At the same time, they did not dare to speculate whether a third quarantine was necessary in Lithuania.

“For the quarantine to be lifted and all measures lifted, we must go back to such normal rates when the disease has not spread at all, there are isolated cases that are easy to trace. There is a long way to go. The first is a reduction in morbidity to a level that allows hospitals to return to normal, and COVID-19 patients are treated only in specialized wards.

And for the third quarantine, we started the second, so it’s hard to guess. As the Government will decide, I really cannot take responsibility for the Government. Like I said, I have almost no doubt that it will spread. And for a while, now I wouldn’t dare to guess, ”said A. Veryga.

It was urged not to stigmatize sick people.

Veryga also asked that the stigmatization of the coronavirus not start and that people who have had the disease be afraid, especially those who returned to work after 10 days of isolation. According to the minister, such a decision was made by the doctors themselves on the basis of the latest research data, because after 10 days of illness, a person usually no longer infects.

The minister also promised to clarify the requirements for kindergartens so that the children who attend them, who have already reached the age of 6, do not wear masks. Masks would only be mandatory for school-age children. This will be decided by the government on Wednesday.

True, A. Veryga emphasized that no one plans to remove masks for schoolchildren and urged parents not to trust conspiracy theories.

“A mask is not a kind of reservoir where carbon dioxide accumulates. The mask is just a filter for exhaled and inhaled air, ”said the Minister.

It is realistic to expect the first doses of the vaccine in January

The SAM chief could not answer exactly when the coronavirus vaccine could arrive in Lithuania.

“When it is realistic or unrealistic to obtain the vaccine I will not really respond, it will all depend on how the manufacturers achieve the delivery of the registry. I think it is realistic to receive the first doses in January, but that does not mean that all the vaccines have arrived. We will really get some only in the second half of next year, because they are in very different stages of development, ”noted A. Veryga.

53 doctors got sick during the day

According to this morning, 702 people are being treated for coronavirus in hospitals, half of whom are receiving oxygen, 75 in the resuscitation and intensive care unit and 47 are receiving artificial lung ventilation. However, not all hospitals have reported data. still, so the numbers may be higher.

D. Razmuvienė reiterated that epidemiologists are concerned about the increasing number of coronavirus infections in health professionals.

“What is happening in health centers, how many health professionals are getting sick, is really worrying. Yesterday, 53 health professionals were diagnosed with a coronavirus infection. If we compare 2 months: during the entire month of October 724 infected doctors were registered, and during these days of November 9 there were also 723 cases between doctors, the figures are large ”, said D. Razmuvienė.

Reassured by the accident at the Astrava power plant

A. Veryga also mentioned at the press conference about the accident at the Astrava nuclear power plant. The minister urged not to panic and not start taking iodine tablets as they are not needed at the moment.

Ramunė Stasiūnaitienė, Deputy Director of the Center for Radiation Protection, Acting Director, also stated that there had been no increase in radiation contamination in Lithuania.

In addition, a network of early warning stations is being concentrated on the border with Belarus, which would transmit a signal immediately in the event of increased radiation.