The Disease Prevention and Control Centre (SPKC) reports that last week there was an increase of the number of Covid-19 infections in Latvia: 183 new cases were confirmed. This is 45 more when compared to the week before.
Last week a total of 615 laboratory tests were performed (486 a week prior). The proportion of positive tests remained moderately high – 29.8% (28.4% a week prior). This indicates that
Covid-19 infection remains dominant
among other upper respiratory infections.
SPKC reminds that more than a month has passed since monitoring of flu and other acute upper respiratory infections commenced. Last week’s monitoring data showed an increase of Covid-19 cases, as well as the start of circulation of A-type flu and an increase of intensity of the spread of flu.
Sewer water monitoring indicates a moderate rise in the spread of Covid-19 and an increase of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus EG.5 variant in multiple cities.
For the second consecutive week the number of hospitalised SARS-CoV-2 patients has been on a rise. While in October (2nd-22nd of October) the number of Covid-19 patients was 76 on average every week, last week’s number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients was 213 (154 a week prior).
Among those patients are also people who became infected in hospitals while undergoing treatment for other health problems.
The last time a similar number of Covid-19 patients was found was the period between January and March 2023 this year. The number of patients in severe condition has not changed – it’s still two. Seven deaths for Covid-19 patients were registered (11 a week prior) in the 50-90+ years group. Covid-19 was the primary health problem for three patients.
Monitoring also shows that last week (30.10 – 05.11) the average spread of flu in Latvia increased slightly. General practitioners registered 11 clinical flu cases, or and average of 15.3 cases per 100 000 residents (11.3 per 100 000 people in 43rd week). The majority of flu cases were registered in Ventspils, Daugavpils and Riga. High infection rates are recorded in the 0-4 years age group.
Last week 97 patients were tested for flu. In 6 (6.2%) cases patients tested positive and in 4 cases A-type flu was found. Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital’s microbiology laboratory confirmed A-type flu virus in two samples.
Sewer water monitoring data for Covid-19 shows that similarly to elsewhere in Europe, there is SARS-CoV-2 virus Omicron variant’s XBB.1.5 sub-type and EG.5 variant present in Latvia. Omicron XBB.1.5 variant’s spread is on a rise in Salaspils and Limbaži, whereas EG.5 is on a rise in Riga, Jurmala, Ventspils, Rezekne, Jekabpils, Tukums, Bauska, Saldus and Talsi.
In most of the European Union and European Economic Zone flu spread is on a level similar to last year’s period. On the EU/EEZ level the proportion of Covid-19 positive tests remained at 20%, whereas the positive flu tests proportion remained below 2%.
To reduce the risk of severe infection and death, vaccination for seasonal flu and Covid-19 is recommended to all residents.
This season more than 59 000 people in Latvia have vaccinated for seasonal flu and more than 11 000 have vaccinated for Covid-19.
Also read: SPKC: Covid-19 infection rate is on a rise, but the situation is not dramatic
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