The spread of Covid-19 infection will increase again in autumn. However, there is hope infection cases will not be as severe as they were in the first waves, said World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Latvian branch manager Uldis Mitenbergs told TV3.
The specialist said Covid-19 infection rates are already on a rise in all of Europe. The number of hospitalisations is also up. Fortunately, no major increase of severe infection cases and deaths is observed as of yet.
Metenbergs mentioned that Covid-19 infection rates will increase even more in autumn. This is why he invited residents to finish their vaccination course and get booster shots if they haven’t already. The expert also advised residents already showing infection symptoms to be extra careful and avoid going to public places.
WHO representative said he hopes this autumn season’s Covid-19 pandemic will not turn out as difficult as the previous ones. He did stress that it is difficult to predict if any restrictions are needed. One thing is clear –
if hospital workload increases significantly, restrictions will be unavoidable.
According to the expert, the fact that less developed countries have how Covid-19 vaccination coverage creates the risk of the virus spreading and mutating further.
Covid-19 pandemic may have been overcome in its acute phase, but it is not over, said Mitenbergs.
Read also: Covid-19 infection cases on a rise in Latvia; seniors advised to get second booster jab