The Omicron version is set to go into effect “over the next few days” across Switzerland, according to a statement given to NZZ by task force chief Tanja Stadler. And Jürg Utzinger, director of the Swiss Institute of Public Health, quoted by Blick, echoed him: “Omicron cannot be stopped, contagion is inevitable”. But, at least according to the data coming from South Africa, we are probably moving from a pandemic to an endemic phase of the virus. As Utzinger points out, South Africa has high rates of infection and deaths in previous waves based on the low number of people at risk of hospitalization, as those who recover are half as safe from a severe course. Huh. This, doctors say, covers about 33% of vaccinated people. “This would indicate a shift towards an endemic phase, that is, a phase in which the virus continues to spread through the population, but with less damage,” concludes Utzinger.
Similar conclusions draw Christian Drosten, one of the most popular virologists in Germany interviewed by the Sonntagszeitung: “I think Omicron will be the type of Sar-CoV-2 that will be in the endemic phase with us”, said the virologist whose According to Omicron, being highly contagious, it would thus become the first “post-pandemic” virus. According to Drosten, who cites cases in South Africa, England and Scotland, increasing vaccination of the population due to high vaccination rates and large numbers of recoveries will cause a weakening of the virus’s effects. “South Africa and Great Britain are in any case on their way to an endemic status”, declares Drosten, shared by South African virologists.
Christian Drosten cites the examples of South Africa, England and Scotland, which seem to be ahead of Switzerland and Central Europe. In the UK, vaccination rates are high. Since many people are already infected, the population also has a high level of immunity, say virologists. According to the latest studies, the weakening of the pathogenic effect is mainly due to this increased immunity of the population. “South Africa and Great Britain are in any case on their way to an endemic state”.
However, according to German virologists, this is not the time to relax restrictions, as the high number of people over the age of 60 have still not been vaccinated or cured: this condition essentially prevents the virus from circulating freely. Satisfaction will happen. intensive care and a large number of deaths. Drosten stresses potential difficulties for public infrastructure and services, such as police and firefighters, as well as for many sectors of the economy, if multiple workers are infected and placed in isolation at the same time.
Faced with further worsening of the situation, German scientists have called for an emergency rule “1G” to allow access to major events and public places, or to reserve entry only for those who have already received it. Let’s go to the concept of introduction. third dose. This is because “with the delta version, 2G and 3G rules may suffice, but now Omicron is setting the rules”. Drosten points out that many countries have come up with very low vaccination rates in the winter, making it not possible to stabilize the situation in the summer.
Next summer, however, can be “relaxed”, even if the worst is left in the middle of the two waves, namely the current one until Easter and the next in autumn: accelerating the pace and resorting to vaccines adapted to new variables. By then, with the consequent end of the pandemic, the endemic stage is certainly reached.
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