The real number of Covid-19 infections in Latvia might be three times above official statistical data, said P.Stradins Clinical University Hospital infectologist and University of Latvia Professor Uga Dumpis in an interview to TV3 programme 900 seconds on 28 January.
Commenting on the epidemiological situation, the expert said the number of new infection cases uncovered every day depends on capacity of laboratories. However, Dumpis believes Latvia should brace for a surge of new infection cases for a least another week.
The specialist stresses that there is definitely a larger number of infected people than what the daily published statistical information reports. «I think there may be up to three times more infected people,» Dumpis says, adding that for many residents the illness passes either mildly or asymptomatically. «The scale of the epidemic is enormous,» Dumpis concluded.
He stresses that the vaccination process has essentially stopped. The reason is because people might be thinking that the pandemic will end soon. «Nothing will end just like that. Booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines are even mandatory for a number of groups of residents who are at risk of severe infection,» said Dumpis.
The infectologist stressed that vaccination is what’s most important at the moment – primary and booster vaccination included.
He also stressed that there may not be a need for a vaccine developed specifically for Omicron, because by the time such vaccines have been developed, the Omicron wave will have been over. Dumpis allowed a polyvalent vaccine, which contains multiple virus variants, may be needed in autumn.
As previously reported, 9 087 new Covid-19 infection cases were found and 18 deaths were reported in Latvia on Wednesday, 26 January, according to information from the Disease Prevention and Monitoring Centre.
The two-week cumulative infection index has increased from 3 239.9 to 3 584.4 cases per 100 000 residents.
Infectologist suggests real number of Covid-19 infections three times above reported numbers
