When the coronavirus rages, S. Čaplinskas warns of a difficult winter and calls for changes

In 14 days 100 thousand. There were 645.7 cases of COVID-19 in Lithuania. This is the highest rate among EU countries.

According to the number of deaths in 14 days per million inhabitants, Lithuania ranks second with 80.5 deaths. The first deadliest is Bulgaria, with 139 deaths per million inhabitants.

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The virus mutates faster than we can adapt

Teacher. S. Čaplinskas emphasized that the data speaks for itself. According to him, it is clear that the measures taken to stop the spread of the virus did not produce the expected results.

15 minutes According to the interlocutor, one of the reasons for this is the mutations in the virus, which have caused a much faster spread of COVID-19.

“The characteristics of the virus have changed. If it was previously said that a distance of at least 2 meters was required to reduce communication time to a few minutes, one thing is clear now: it may take a person a few seconds to inhale an infectious dose. , a dose of the virus. that can cause disease. “An infected person sheds 10 times more of this virus than the Wuhan virus strain, but prevention now must be even more intense,” he explained.

Although the number of patients is increasing despite the fact that part of the population has already been vaccinated, the current situation is different from what we saw before the discovery of the coronavirus vaccine. The most important thing, according to the interviewee, is that having immunity (vaccination or disease) reduces the risk of COVID-19.

“Even when infected, the human immune system responds faster. There are two possible cases: either the immune system will react so quickly that the person will not get sick, or they will get sick in a much milder way and probably won’t even go to the hospital. In addition, that person will spread the virus to others much shorter. “

S. Čaplinskas considered that the mutated virus spreads much faster, therefore, to end the pandemic, the number of people with immunity in society should also be much higher. In short, 70 percent pre-planned. nowadays it is not enough: to create herd immunity, 90% must be immunized. society, he said.

“We just realized that this would not happen soon. However, there is more to the poster: the more people are vaccinated, the less the spread of the virus, and if people get sick, it will be much easier,” he emphasized. 15 minutes interlocutor.

“Mission Impossible”, when asked if it was realistic to achieve herd immunity, responded briefly, drawing attention to the global context. The interlocutor explained that to finally overcome the pandemic, the number of people free of the virus around the world, including children, must reach 90%. For at least a few more years, according to S. Čaplinskas, it would be difficult to expect this.

The motto of freedom turned to the other extreme

When asked to mention the biggest mistakes that led to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Lithuania, S. Čaplinskas spared no criticism from the previous government: “You will not build a good house on crooked foundations. Because the foundations are crooked and built, we vividly remember the government that it is now criticizing this government and does not see the mistakes it has made. “

Some people thought that if they had already been vaccinated, they could live like they used to.

Speaking of the current rulers’ decisions, he lacked a broader vision: “We solve only one problem at a time. A concrete example is that we try to encourage people to get vaccinated with passports of opportunity. Some people were vaccinated, but the acceptability of the vaccination service in this passport of opportunities was not addressed in any way and the reverse reaction was negative. Some people thought that if they had already been vaccinated, they could live as before, as if the virus was gone. That motto of freedom has probably changed. “

“One of the biggest problems is that we are trying to control the pandemic through police methods, bans and accusations. And basically, a pandemic is about the behavior of you, me and each of us: how we understand it and how we adjust our behavior so as not to infect ourselves and infect others.

As the proverb says, the dog and the warrior get used to it. The bullying narrative is exhausted, it no longer works. People are already tired, even of explaining every day how much they have been infected and how many have died. The question is whether to blame this if it no longer works and perhaps even has the opposite effect ”, asked the interlocutor.

When asked how to encourage the public to get vaccinated, S. Čaplinskas said that education and the ability to explain the situation in a way that everyone can understand is important.

“It just came to our attention then. Family practitioners, communities, elders and finally the church must be involved in the response to the pandemic. What does it mean to include? It is primarily trained so that they have sufficient knowledge and about quarreland about vaccines, etc. “, said.

The last harsh winter?

15 minutes According to S.Čaplinskas, for some time we will see an increasing number of diseases. According to him, some people who have not acquired immunity and have comorbidities can become seriously ill and, sadly, die.

However, the interlocutor sees a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel:

“But this winter should be the last such difficult winter.” There should be less room for the virus to spread, it shouldn’t cause so many severe forms of the disease, “he said, adding that flu vaccination is especially important this year, as World Health Organization experts ( WHO) predict more intense season.

One of the reasons for the spread of COVID-19 is the irresponsible behavior of vaccinated people.

T. Tamošuitis, director of the Kaunas Clinics Intensive Care Clinic, noted that the number of people infected with coronavirus has been growing steadily for some time.

One of the reasons for this is the poor vaccination results, but no less important in this context is the irresponsible behavior of the vaccinated individuals. It is often forgotten that even after vaccination, you can become infected without even knowing it.

According to the interlocutor, this became especially evident with the entry into force of the “facilitations” with the possibility of passports, when the use of medical masks in confined spaces acquired only an advisory character.

“Schools have been opened. In schools, of course, and students are the ones who can spread the disease. Another thing is the early cold period in Lithuania. September is quite cold, respiratory diseases have progressed. There have been a lot of faulty components and it has turned into a really high number of infections, which are now almost the same as in late fall / early December last year, ”he said, adding that it is natural for the number of serious forms. . and deaths on the rise.

The situation is complex but manageable

Speaking about the situation at LSMU Kaunas clinics, T. Tamošuitis stated that the situation is currently being handled, so far no volunteer help is needed.

“The number of beds, it must be said, is constantly increasing throughout September. From a few intensive care beds in summer, that number has risen to 18. We are currently treating 13 patients, most of them in serious condition, with artificial lung ventilation, ”said the head of the Intensive Care Clinic.

“The occupancy of intensive care beds is similar to that of the beginning of December last year, but with the oxygen demand it is significantly lower [pacientų, – aut. past.]”despite the fact that the number of infections is increasing,” he said, explaining that this situation could be attributed to vaccination. According to the interviewee, severe forms of COVID-19 are more common in unvaccinated people, vaccinated for a long time or with comorbidity.

Although the LSMU Kaunas Clinic is not the main medical institution providing assistance to coronavirus-infected patients in the region, a special department was reopened last week in response to the deterioration of the situation, which, according to the interlocutor, is also filling up quickly.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to attract people to work in these departments.

15 minutes T. Tamošuitis said efforts are being made not to reduce the scope of planned services, but it may be necessary to do so as the virus continues to spread rapidly.

Disappointed by doctors, it is increasingly difficult to find people who want to work in “combat” departments

When asked if he had to confront the opponents of the vaccine, T. Tamošuitis answered in the affirmative, explaining that some of them, after being admitted to the hospital, change their minds and sincerely regret it. However, there are cases when even a seriously ill patient does not believe in medication and continues to deny the existence of the coronavirus.

15 minutes When asked what state of mind he lives in and how doctors feel, he said that many of the colleagues managed to rest at least briefly in the summer, which eases the situation a bit. Still, he admitted, seeing the numbers get closer to last year’s winter numbers, some lose hope.

“It is increasingly difficult to attract people to work in these departments, we have to talk a lot and motivate. Often times, even financial rewards are not the main motivational tool. “