The president of the Higher Institute of Health: the fragile must be protected. Difficult contact tracing at this stage, those who independently discover that they are positive should declare it and be aware that they can transmit the virus
We are in the game, he wears the player’s shoes Slvio Brusaferro, president of the Higher Institute of Health. The match that began in February 2020 against the Sars-CoV-2 virus that today still keeps us pinned on the pitch to respond to his quick-change opponent’s blows. The last one lunges the sub-variant Omicron 5more transmissible even if less aggressive.
Will it prevail?
We are closely monitoring it. The collection of data is fundamental to understand and contain its evolutions. In other words, we are on track.
How?
We have a large section of the immune population and this is essential in order to prevent the serious consequences of the infection and the impact on health services.
How many are the immune?
86% of Italians over 5 years of age vaccinated with a full cycle. All those who have contracted the virus naturally and have developed infection-induced protection must be added, I would say that we certainly exceed 90%. Broad coverage.
For?
Severe cases remain contained, hospital admissions show limited growth. If we were not protected by the immunity shield, the situation would be very different and we would not be able to look at summer with the same perspective. Even today, the priority remains the protection of frail people, over 80 years of age and of people suffering from chronic diseases, especially if they are elderly and immunosuppressed.
The virus is not dangerous and is expressed with mild forms, wouldn’t it be better to let it run to facilitate its path towards endemia?
It is not correct to underestimate it, it is necessary to monitor it and deal with it by modulating actions. Today I believe that the population has learned to use precautions in risky situations. For we must protect the frail and keep immunity high. We monitor day by day, discussing with our European colleagues to immediately intercept the alarm signals even with pathogen sequencing activities.
Fourth dose needed?
a priority in this phase is to guarantee a high immunity to the frail in order to protect them above all from severe forms of disease. The existing recommendations go in this direction: even the data published this week show 86% protection from serious illness and in the over 80s the percentage rises to 91%.
Where are we in the pandemic?
We are still in a pandemic phase and we need to be aware of this. At the moment the whole control system is fully operational.
Are the cases on the rise?
I wouldn’t call it that. The weekly incidence rose from 310 cases per 100 thousand inhabitants last week to the current 504. a very significant increase accompanied by a replication index, the Rt, above unity. This epidemic wave will still grow as we are seeing in other countries. started from Portugal and we know that what happens in Europe sooner or later will interest us too.
What caused the recovery?
Omicron 4 and 5, the last two sub-variants, are more transmissible. They constitute respectively 18% and 34% of the circulating strains, according to the latest monitoring. The summer season favors contacts and social life.
Then there are the reinfections.
They exceed 8%. We know that today those who, despite having been vaccinated and having had the infection, could contract a second time the virus which, however, affects less severely from a clinical point of view.
Mask still useful?
Let’s wear it in the most risky situations.
Does contact tracing still work?
At this very difficult stage. The number of cases too high and presumably those notified are lower than the real ones. Anyone who independently discovers that he is positive should declare it and be aware that he can transmit the virus.
June 26, 2022 (change June 26, 2022 | 10:20)
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