Veryga: the second wave is usually larger than the first

– With the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, the obligation to wear masks has already been introduced. What awaits us in the future if the situation changes for the worse?

– Before going on vacation, I mentioned that there are certain indicators that are being tested. For the return of the masks, for the determination of the distance, there were 5 cases per 100,000. The population, what the Government did yesterday at its meeting, made that decision.

Masks and distances are, for example, the least damaging factor in not stopping the economy, allowing people to live.

And the next step, the most logical thing to expect, is to limit the number of people at events, places where people gather. If people behaved responsibly, that should be enough, because the spread of the disease requires close contact so that people don’t protect themselves.

Anything can happen, if we see that the disease is spreading very intensely in any region or place, local quarantines can be introduced. The government can decide on them so that the situation is under control and most people do not have to be quarantined again. This is severely hampering the economy, and knowing, knowing the virus, having more information and knowledge can lead to more localized measures.

These things are the most likely. And everything else happens all the time, the list of countries that you must isolate from when you return. We are waiting for the device to be used voluntarily, and if people download and use it, it will be possible to determine if the person was next to the infected person. New tools are emerging, of course, everyone is waiting for the vaccine, a process that never ends. In principle, I would like it to be resolved, be it a vaccine or a medicine.

– Autumn is coming, when people traditionally start to have colds with symptoms similar to COVID-19. How are you going to handle the whole process, when every third person who feels the symptoms of a cold calls a special phone line and the problems already exist, far from everyone being able to test on time? What do you think about that

– Here are some things. The first thing I want to mention is the awareness of the people themselves when they feel the symptoms of going nowhere. Another important thing that the European Union and the European Commission are also emphasizing is early vaccination against influenza.

So far we have not been very active, perhaps here is our national trait, skepticism, the belief that we can be overcome. Our vaccination culture is very unique.

A law has already been passed to allow pharmacists to vaccinate people, and it will only go into effect next year. We will make a proposal for it to go into effect so it can go into effect later this year. Universities are ready to receive training, preparation, and could be vaccinated against seasonal flu in pharmacies.

There may also be an option to increase the number of test points, and we have also considered that smaller treatment facilities may have test kits. So far, this is only an idea for discussion, as we get information that the equipment is not very accurate, there may be some inaccuracies. We probably won’t develop too much for all medical institutions to have it.

But let’s not forget that treatment facilities do flu tests. The Covid-19 test is not required.

Clearly, the public will continue to be polite, remembering recommendations on how to behave, what to do, what was done during the peak itself. Let us remind you that people would be aware and would not go to work when they felt the symptoms, so they would not have to send the entire workplace to self-isolation.

– The second wave of the coronavirus pandemic seems to be coming. Do you think it will be stronger or weaker than the first one? In addition, experience in fighting infection has already been gained, some work has been done.

– The prognosis is very difficult. However, for countries experiencing a second wave, it is generally higher than the first. It is difficult to explain why this is so.

It is possible that people who are tired of quarantine are attacking the swarm, attacking to communicate again, which appears to be causing the spread of the virus.

How things will be will depend a lot on many things. Firstly, from our conscience, how we ourselves, how citizens will behave, how much we will be aware, how we will use the measures that have now been identified or recommended. If we isolate ourselves from certain countries or feel the symptoms, we will not reach harmony. There are so many components here because it is also difficult for mathematicians to model for the future. Most of the time, they make mistakes because they cannot predict behavior. Therefore, I do not “predict” these situations in any way.

– You mentioned the mobile application from August to September, which will allow people who have installed it on their smartphones to find out if they have been in close contact with a COVID-19 certified person. Inevitably, various conspiracy theories about total surveillance, 5G, “stung vaccines, doors and sores” will begin to spread in society. Perhaps you already plan how you will communicate with people so that they are not afraid to use this gadget?

– I think we will really find ways to explain. After all, people who are very afraid of these devices cannot even imagine what their smartphone does. If they had any knowledge and understanding of what was going on with their mobile device, how much information was being collected, how many people had given permission to download various apps, they would really have hair on their heads.

I really think we will explain how the gadget works, we will show it in a very visual way. And proponents of conspiracy theories are not protected, all the more so because they are generally the same people who “stick” to any conspiracy theory. Whatever it is, be it 5G, or chemtrails, or Soros, flat terrain.

It seems that this group of people is basically not inclined to trust official sources, they tend not to trust the state, its institutions. You will not do anything here, no matter how much you explain, they will not change their thinking much. It is important that the majority of the public knows this. And you don’t have to be 100 percent. To implement this application, it would be enough for a part of the public to use it and it would be an additional tool to explain diseases.

– How would you predict how many people will download and use this application?

– I really wouldn’t dare guess, I can’t imagine. Perhaps around a third of people could benefit, and that would be a lot.

– If a COVID-19 vaccine were developed, what percentage of the population would have to be vaccinated to stop the spread of the virus?

– I won’t say exactly now, but I know that 60 – 70 percent of the total population was involved. However, these figures are still based on those theories in which countries have tried to apply a group immunity strategy.

It is also helpful to know that far from all members of society they are at high risk. Vaccination should be given first to people at increased risk, such as the elderly and people with chronic diseases. Because for others, but also when they get sick, there are no major problems, and if they do, these numbers are very small.

Therefore, when vaccinating, it should be done primarily with people at increased risk of death, the elderly, and people with chronic diseases.

– Are there already scientifically validated data on human immunity to COVID-19, or does a person with this virus acquire it permanently or only for a certain period of time?

– It is not yet clear, it is up to the investigators to determine this. The effects of the vaccine are also under investigation.