Sars-CoV-2, in the ‘version’ Omicron 5, “perhaps today it can be considered the most contagious virus in the world and precisely in this characteristic lies its danger“: compared to the coronavirus that overwhelmed us like a tsunami in the early stages of the pandemic” it is certainly less aggressive, but it remains problematic because in causing so many infections it can easily reach even the most fragile people. “In an interview with Adnkronos Health Arnaldo Caruso, president of the Italian Society of Virology (Siv-Isv), invites “do not underestimate” the sub-variant Omicron BA.5 set to become dominant. A warning that the expert launches especially in view of autumn because “in October the virus will return”, he warns, while the current wave is “the surprise that was not expected”, which however “could only be a fleeting flare. “.
“SUMMER FLAME” – “We are certainly experiencing an increase that we did not expect at this time”, explains the specialist, full professor of microbiology and clinical microbiology at the University of Brescia and director of the microbiology laboratory of Asst Spedali Civili, because Sars-CoV-2 remains ” a respiratory virus “that as a whole” during the summer period should have been in a phase of remission. We knew that Omicron 5 can infect people who have already been vaccinated or recovered from an infection associated with previous variants, so that in some way it is capable of ‘piercing’ vaccine and natural immunity “in terms of infectious capacity, without prejudice to protection against the most serious forms of Covid-19 disease. “But we thought it hit a little further, not now,” observes Caruso.
“However – he specifies – the one in progress could be a flare-up and nothing else, as we have seen happen in other countries, for example in Portugal. We are a bit late”, therefore still with a growing curve, “but we hope around the end of July, once the peak is over, you can have a quieter August that allows you to enjoy peaceful holidays “.
But is the running of Omicron 5, less bad than the other ‘sisters’ of the Omicron family, a good thing or not? The advent of “Omicron BA.5 – replies the president of the Italian virologists – tells us that the Sars-CoV-2 virus continues to evolve and certainly this characteristic of being able to infect everyone is not good news, because infecting large numbers Omicron 5 can reach even the fragile bands more easily. While it is true that most of us, either by vaccination or by natural infection or both, have developed an important immunological basis “and maintain one ‘ shield against serious Covid, “however, we must be very careful and protect those who do not have this immunological basis: precisely the categories most at risk of serious pathology”.
In short, has the virus not cooled down yet? “Certainly virological studies tell us that Sars-CoV-2 has changed and that it does not affect the lungs in the same way as before”, the expert said, hypothesizing that “the deaths we unfortunately continue to see every day” are “not connected. to classic viral pneumonia, but to different complications in patients already compromised by different contributing causes. However, like all viruses, if it attacks a person without immune defenses, even Omicron BA.5 can hurt. After all – the specialist points out – it can also do it the ‘simple’ influence that is not trivial “.
“STOP POSITIVE ISOLATION” – “The virus is endemic, there are many positives in Covid and it has now become impossible to trace and quarantine them all”. It is in the light of this picture that, according to Caruso, “from a practical point of view it is a profound injustice that positive people are forced into the house” officially, those who agree to undergo the tampons that start the isolation procedure. “So you force your hand and induce many positives not to declare themselves”. In other words, the obligation of quarantine for the infected feeds the submerged and uncontrolled circulation of Sars-CoV-2, while going from imposition to accountability “would be common sense”, says the expert.
“I say this”, he clarifies: “Those who are positive for Covid and have symptoms, because only those who have them can make sure they are infected, should be empowered to stay at home until the ailments disappear. After that they can wear a mask and also go back to work, then redo a test that certifies that the negativization has taken place “.
Isolated positives, therefore, but not out of obligation but out of individual responsibility, “with the conviction that to protect oneself and above all others it is right not to go out. collective accountability will control the epidemic even better “.
“ANACHRONISTIC OBLIGATION“- Covid positive quarantine, mask, vaccines.” For everything, continuing to impose obligations today would be anachronistic. The season of obligation is over, the time of responsibility has begun “, is the message of Caruso who on the immunization front in view of the autumn agrees with the president of the Higher Health Council, Franco Locatelli:” It is right to envisage a vaccination anti Sars-CoV-2 for over 60s – explains the expert – but absolutely not obligatory. The vaccine must also be voluntary, strongly recommended to the categories most at risk, in the same way as is done with the flu “.
“The obligation – Caruso analyzes – was inserted in a moment of great gravity and little knowledge of the virus, in a phase in which the new coronaviurs hit hard and hard, descended deeply causing fatal pneumonia. Then it was certainly necessary to impose a lockdown , rules of protection in all interactions between people and vaccination. Today we know that the virus is certainly not the same more than before. It is always dangerous and it must be said – he reiterates – because it is not yet a ‘simple flu’ . But we have an important immune basis and so at this point we protect the fragile, the defenseless, those who really have and will need to be protected “.
“By now we should all know what this virus is – reasons the number one of the Siv-Isv – We should all know how dangerous it is and each of us, in conscience, should ask himself: I want to take advantage of the effective and safe vaccine that the State offers me for free , to protect myself and others? Do I want to continue wearing the mask as a practice in risky situations, for my own good and that of others? those who want to protect themselves and protect themselves should do so, in the personal conviction that it is right and useful, with a view to individual responsibility. We work on this “.
“IN AUTUMN RISK CHAOS HOSPITALS” – “After this summer blaze, Covid will return in the autumn and what I see is that we are not prepared at the territorial level. What I am afraid of is that a clogging of the emergency rooms may again occur next season, with people who at the first symptom, more serious than the common cold, they pour into hospitals “, plunging them back into the chaos already experienced and paralyzing the care of other sick people. Caruso does not mince words to express his fears: “I see no signs that the necessary measures are being taken in the area to ensure that the majority of patients can benefit from home care against Covid-19” and avert the danger of tilt, he warns the expert, launching an appeal to the Ministry of Health.
“A little because of the enormous burden of bureaucracy that weighs on the shoulders of family doctors, also because of so many avoidable tampons, a little perhaps to defend against possible consequences – analyzes the specialist – oral antivirals are there, but they are not still enough prescribed; monoclonal antibodies are there, but they are still used too little. It is necessary to put general practitioners in a position not to fear repercussions of any kind if they prescribe a drug they deem appropriate, in giving home care “, Caruso exhorts.
“The family doctor must be able to act – he urges – he must be freed from bureaucratic shackles and fears that today hamper assistance at home, outside the hospital. The doctor must feel free to operate in serenity on the territory according to competence, but at the moment unfortunately I don’t see the conditions for this to happen. This is the only big problem that I foresee for the autumn “, also in ‘era Omicron’:” Back to clog hospitals “.
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