It is clearly known that currently the type of Omicron dominates Latvia, with various subtypes. Ludmila Vīksna, chief medical officer of Infectology at Rīga Eastern Clinical University hospital, said that those with Eris subtype, for example, were more characterized by runny nose and vocal hoarseness.
“Covid is like a quest. There's a surprise around every corner,“ said Vīksna.
She said the surge in morbidity could be attributed to the return of pupils and students to teaching facilities. “Children are sick because they met again in the cramped classrooms. Workers are sick because they have returned from leave. The autumn weather, with a cold morning and a hot midday, can also affect health,“ Vīksna said.
The number of Covid-19 patients is also growing in hospitals, mostly found as an adjacent illness, but there are also patients in severe condition.
The type of Omicron virus Eris detected in wastewater has not yet been confirmed in any particular patient.
“We're going to see this in the next three weeks,” said Ģirts Šķenders, head of sequencing at the Eastern hospital laboratory, “Antigen tests should definitely show these new variants as well, as antigen tests have been tested and are able to detect Omicron variants and subvariants,” said Šķenders.
Also this autumn, risk groups such as pregnant women, chronic disease patients, and seniors will be advised by doctors to be vaccinated against both the flu and Covid.
Medical workers have also observed that many have forgotten their pandemic-time habits, and as the virus season begins, doctors are urging everyone to wash their hands frequently, not visit the sick, observe distance and stay home while sick.
