Filenews 24 December 2021 - by Despina Psilou
A decrease in people in gatherings for the rest of the holidays is a possibility given the worsening epidemiological situation, according to information from "F". The possibility of an emergency meeting in the coming days, with the members of the Advisory Scientific Committee, was expressed by the Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantelas, if this is deemed necessary. However, the attention of the world is drawn by the experts. Dr. Michalis Voniatis talks about a scenario of even 2,000 cases per day. Dr Leontios Kostrikis predicts that by the end of the year 90% of new cases will be from the new mutation. Dr Costas Constantinou warns that Cyprus is entering the most critical phase of the pandemic, as the "Omikron" mutation will soon prevail.
Specifically, the information of "F" indicates that a possible next measure that could be taken within the festive season, is the reduction of people in gatherings. This is a proposal, which was also discussed in the last consultation between the Ministry of Health and epidemiologists, but did not go ahead. After all, the same source says, and last year during the holidays measures were taken to contain the pandemic, so such a scenario cannot be ruled out. However, it was noted that the increase in cases, the spread of the virus, the pressure on hospitals and the general outbreak recorded in recent times, concerns the mutation "Delta", so an additional deterioration is expected when the mutation "Omikron" spreads.
For his part, the Minister of Health, in his statements on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Post-Covid Patient Wing at the Eden Rehabilitation Centre in Tersefanou, also left open the possibility of taking additional measures. "For any additional decisions, we will look at the number of cases and the number of hospitalizations. Fortunately, in the last couple of days we have had a reduction in hospitalizations. We will study the data in the coming days and if we need to take additional measures, we will take them after consulting the scientists as well."
Asked to comment on the position of Professor of Molecular Virology of the University of Cyprus, Dr Leontios Kostrikis, that by the end of the year 90% of coronavirus cases will be ill with the variant "Omikron", Mr. Chatzipandelas said that this is something that is happening all over the world, not only in Cyprus. He appealed to citizens during the holiday season to wear the protective mask and to conduct rapid tests and self-tests before each family gathering.
On the complaints and criticisms of citizens who did not find a Pfizer vaccine at walk-in vaccination centres and Moderna's exclusive vaccine administration, the minister said: "Moderna is the best vaccine in the world. I characterize it as such because scientists have mentioned that the combination of Pfizer and Moderna gives the best result. At the moment Moderna is the best and most expensive vaccine", which is why he believes that citizens should not complain.
Ominous are the estimates of professor of Molecular Viral Scientists of the University of Cyprus, Dr Leontios Kostrikis, who said that in addition to the increase in cases due to the transmissibility of the virus, he expects a significant increase in patient admissions to hospitals. "By December 13, the prevalence of 'Omikron' was 11%, which doubles or even triples every three to four days. With these facts we can estimate that today the prevalence of "Omikron" in Cyprus has reached 40%". Dr. Kostrikis estimated that based on the numbers we have so far and the prevalence of "Omikron", it is very likely that by the end of the year this mutation will have a complete prevalence. "That is, more than 90% of new cases have the mutation."
President Anastasiades on stricter measures
The hope that stricter measures would not be needed was expressed by the President of the Republic, when asked about such an eventuality. "My request," he said, "the largest possible number to decide that our only protection is vaccination, the only protection from the pandemic, a phenomenon that is taking on new dimensions globally, is science. Those who deny science do not simply deny the freedom given to them and the opportunity they have not to get sick, not to transmit, not to lose their own people, but the individual must now be transformed into a broader responsibility, a social responsibility for the benefit of the whole".
Michalis Voniatis - Maybe we see 2,000 cases a day
Daily cases will soar to up to 2,000 if the "Omikron" mutation has occurred in the community, estimates epidemiologist Dr. Michalis Voniatis. "We have a continuous and significant upward trend over the last ten days. More than 800 cases a day has been established for two days now, approaching 900 cases and this situation seems to have something to do with the onslaught of 'Omikron'." I believe, he continued, that they will surpass 1,000 cases a day if "Omikron" has invaded the community and perhaps in the coming weeks we will see 1,500 to 2,000 cases a day.
He said 3 Omicron 3 cases have already been reported, meaning the new mutation has passed to the community. "So what we're going to see is an increase in cases. The question is how many of them will need hospitalization. Unfortunately, we can see an increase in the disease among those vaccinated. So it is wise on Christmas Day to do a rapid test or a self-test before we sit at the Christmas table, whether we are vaccinated or not," he noted.
People, he continued, must be careful, observe the personal protection measures with reverence because we still do not know what the protection will be even with the third dose of the vaccine, since the epidemiological investigations have not yet come out. "What we insist on is to observe the personal protection measures, because we do not yet know what the severity of the disease is, that is, to what extent the people who are sick will be severe. Because most of them are slightly ill, as far as we know so far. Beyond that, we have to observe the measures because we don't know what will happen yet," he added.
On his part, the member of the Advisory Scientific Committee, Costas Constantinou, warned that Cyprus is entering the most critical phase of the pandemic, as very soon the variant "Omikron" will prevail in the country. Speaking to CyBC, Mr. Constantinou described the situation as very difficult and expressed concern for the resilience of the health system, under the shadow of the increase in hospitalized patients.
He pointed out that in other countries there is a sharp increase in cases, as the variant "Omikron" causes re-infections and seems to escape the protection of vaccination at least with the two doses. He also said that it is crucial to demonstrate how serious illness "Omikron" causes. Cyprus, Mr. Constantinou suggested, cannot wait and should be prepared to face the worst-case scenario and that the effort to detect "Omikron" should be strengthened.
WHO: Booster dose is not enough
There should be no illusion that it is enough to administer booster doses to get out of the Covid-19 pandemic, noted a head of the World Health Organization (WHO). The vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths are people who have not been vaccinated, not those who have not received a booster dose, he stressed. "No country will be able to come out of the pandemic with commemorative doses, and commemorative doses are not a green light to celebrate, as we predicted," said World Health Organization director-general Tedros Antanom Gebregesus. "Indiscriminate doses programmes have every chance of prolonging the pandemic, rather than putting an end to it, channelling the available doses to countries that already have increased vaccination rates, thus offering the virus a better chance of spreading and mutating," Dr. Tedros underlined.
"It is important to remember that the very large majority of hospitalizations and deaths are people who have not been vaccinated, not those who have not received a booster dose," he insisted and added that "we must be very clear" about the fact that "vaccines remain effective against the variants of 'Delta' as well as 'Omikron'."
