When will quarantine restrictions change: More serious release measures are proposed to be postponed until February

The expert said that it is possible to start thinking about easing the quarantine, but not about the release of specific measures.

“I think it’s time to start thinking about it. The Government Council of Experts has developed a quarantine scenario plan so that we can figure out what to expect. That deliberation is ongoing and will continue. The only question is whether we have reached a stage where we can ease the restrictions. I don’t think so, “he assured her.

Professor M. Stankūnas stated that the morbidity indicators are encouraging.

“That turning point is really very nice. Before Christmas, we registered almost 4 thousand cases every day, the proportion of positive tests was almost 25 percent. That percentage has dropped, now as low as 15. We registered fewer than 1,500 cases. They are really impressive numbers, this is really good news ”, said the interlocutor of the program.

The LSMU professor explained that good signs are seen, but the situation has not changed yet. The treatment facilities were also relaxed a bit, but this is not enough to ease the quarantine.

M. Stankūnas called to recall September, when the number of new cases did not even reach 100.

“The situation is definitely better than it was, the trends are hopeful. But the situation is still bad enough for us to talk about some substantial releases,” he explained.

When asked what essential ambition the restrictions pursue, Stankūnas said the effective management of the pandemic.

“And then those releases should be introduced,” an LSMU professor told the news radio show.

Restrictions on circulation between municipalities The government extended the holidays until January 31, Sunday January 17, with the promise to re-evaluate this restriction in light of the epidemiological situation.

Mr. Stankūnas emphasized that this measure was working.

“I still don’t have figures to say how much this works. But if we talk about restrictions on circulation, there are many studies that show a real link between restrictions on circulation and the decrease in cases. (…) The problem is our contacts and meetings of people. Therefore, it is very important to limit them so that we do not spread it, “he recalled.

Measurements may be adjusted in the near future

The government is expected to choose to revise the current quarantine restrictions on Monday. Mr. Stankūnas said that some measures could be adjusted “in the near future”.

“We believe that certain adjustments and measures could be adjusted in the near future. Those that present the least risk are necessary. Despite that human interaction, we had already considered and introduced the idea of ​​support bubbles. Because there are really lonely people.” said.

When asked if such quarantine adjustments could take effect from February 1, M. Stankūnas said maybe sooner.

“But when it comes to more serious liberation measures, they should be postponed until February,” Stankūnas said.

No promises of releases

Živilė Gudlevičienė, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė’s adviser for health care, seconded the position expressed by M. Stankūnas that it was still too early for liberals.

The government will consider possible changes to the quarantine on Monday. However, it does not promise much hope that the restrictions will be released.

“More plans for quarantine conditions will be considered. Whether they can be released or not. But I should be disappointed that so far, although we are seeing very little improvement, we have managed to cope with the pandemic. (…) It is unlikely that the The situation changes from Monday. But when we receive a detailed analysis from the expert council on Monday, then we can say when the next review of the situation will be possible, “Ž said. Gudlevičienė.

He said that priority is now given to educational institutions.

“We just realized that education was a priority. That’s what it’s all about. Because it would be the group most likely to be affected. This education goes to priority areas,” Ž. Gudlevičienė.

Gąsdina is not a “British” mutation

The LSMU professor also said on the show that it is not just the “British” mutation of the virus that is of great concern.

“But the world survives even longer because of the variety that originated in South Africa. Those varieties are disturbing, they are close,” explained M. Stankūnas.

The South African variety is quite similar to the “British”, it is more contagious. To what extent the vaccine would respond to this mutation is not fully understood.

“Until now, we can’t really say and say that it really isn’t,” said the professor.

Ingrida Olendraitė, a scientist and virologist at the University of Cambridge, also spoke about the now very worrying common strains of coronavirus on the radio news show “Question of the Day.”

“It just came to our knowledge then. And that now we will be able to vaccinate part of it until the arrival of those new varieties. That’s a bit reassuring, but even higher growth rates can be expected in the coming months. Because we have a virus that it spreads more easily, “said I. Olendraitė.

He said that morbidity rates in certain regions of England soared after a new strain of the virus and its high spread.

“You have to understand that the more you get infected, the more you die,” said the virologist.

“Accelerating viral infections is problematic, but while it is not more fatal, we are putting a strain on the entire healthcare system,” he said.

“It is also worrying that both the variety found in Brazil and the British variety have a lot of different mutations. (…) One of the mutations in this whole branch is that immunity may not work very well against him. It would be good if we didn’t bring it now, we wouldn’t share it, “said I. Olendraitė.

The virologist said that there are around 800 strains of coronavirus in the world.

The news of the decrease in the number of vaccines was received with sadness

The makers of the COVID-19 vaccine, BioNTech and Pfizer, have halved the number of doses planned for the next four weeks.

As the Health Ministry reported on Friday, the companies announced Thursday night that they would deliver 54,405 doses of the vaccine instead of 108,810 doses over the next four weeks.

Stankūnas said on the show that the news was very bad.

“It just came to our attention then. Because the more we vaccinate people, the sooner we create a protected group of people, that reduction in the number is so disappointing. I was really upset when I got that message. Because all those quarantine measures are applied to we can save time and save time, but the real solution is a vaccine, “said M. Stankūnas on the radio news program.