It is still premature to talk about the transformation of coronavirus into a seasonal infection – such features are not yet visible in it. This was told to Lente.ru by the Deputy Director for Research of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, Chairman of the National Scientific Society of Infectionists, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Gorelov.
According to him, Russia has not yet reached even the minimum level of herd immunity, which should be at least 80 percent. “So the epidemiological process is still ongoing,” the infectious disease specialist said, answering the question of whether the transformation of COVID-19 into a seasonal infection indicates that omicron has lost its ability to infect lung tissue.
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Gorelov also noted that this feature is typical only for the omicron, which, although it is becoming more widespread in Russia, cannot yet displace the delta. Pneumonia is just a key complication for the delta variant.
Delta has not completely disappeared in Russia yet, and there are still many regions where it occupies a significant place in the incidence structure.
Alexander Gorelovinfectious disease specialist
At the same time, he stressed that the main increase in the number of infections is due to medium and mild forms of coronavirus, as well as an increase in the incidence threshold due to seasonal SARS and influenza. “In all these cases, treatment at home is sufficient,” Gorelov assured, stressing that the proportion of severe cases of coronavirus is about five percent of the total.
Earlier, the head of Rospotrebnadhor, Anna Popova, said that the coronavirus had lost its ability to infect lung tissue. According to her, 80 percent of new cases are omicron strain – this type of coronavirus is considered more contagious, but less dangerous.
Many experts have said that the coronavirus will gradually turn into a seasonal infection. In particular, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Vladimir Nikiforov stated that the coronavirus will continue to mutate after the omicron strain and, over time, will most likely become a seasonal SARS. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, virologist Vitaly Zverev, in turn, noted that after the omicron strain of coronavirus, lighter variants of infection will appear.
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