Covid-19 is not gone. There is a slight increase in the number of infections, as LETA was told by Director of Risk Analysis and Prevention Department of Disease Prevention and Control Centre, epidemiologist Jurijs Perevoščikovs.
He said during the summer months were were and average of 14 patients undergoing treatment in hospitals. Last week there were 28 such patients.
Perevoščikovs did say the increase with the number of infections is nothing surprising – it has continued circulating all this time. Now that autumn is here, weather is perfect for the virus to start spreading again.
“People are returning from vacations and meeting with each other more often. September is also the start of the school year – when children start forming groups. During this season we spend more time indoors. It is normally cold, so residents air rooms less often. Every year we see a surge of respiratory syncytial virus and other viruses, not just Covid-19,” said Pereviščikovs.
At the same time, he said the current growth rates are far from what was observed in previous virus outbreaks. For example, in spring there were only 100 patients hospitalised. In the worst moments during the spread of the Delta variant the number of patients hospitalised every month was 1 500.
The dominant Covid-19 variant in Latvia is Omicron, which is milder. Nevertheless, the spread of Covid-19 will continue going up.
Perevoščikovs reminded that people with a weakened immune system – people suffering from chronic illnesses, seniors older than 65 and pregnant women. Although wearing masks is voluntary now, the epidemiologist still invites residents to be careful: spend less time in crowded areas and avoid interacting with infected people.
Vaccination of risk groups for Covid-19 will help protect them from severe infection and reduce the risk of lethal outcomes.
Also read: European Commission approves vaccine for XBB.1.5 Omicron variant of Covid-19