The incidence of Covid-19 has been rising gradually since the beginning of summer, and the latest data show that every fifth sample tested for coronavirus is positive.
"This is a sufficiently large proportion... So we can conclude that if a person has fallen ill, it would probably be worth getting tested for Covid-19. You can also do a self-test," said Perevoščikovs.
The increase in the number of Covid-19 patients in hospitals is also indicative of the increase in morbidity. Last week, 83 people were hospitalized due to this virus, compared to 70 hospitalized the week before.
In the last two weeks, SPKC has received news of nine deaths linked to Covid-19.
"The overall workload in hospitals cannot be compared to what it was at the beginning of the pandemic. Also in the winter months, when there was a previous rise of Covid-19, many more patients were observed being treated in hospitals," said the epidemiologist.
He said that this summer an increase in morbidity has been observed, which is related to the spread of a new variant of Covid-19.
"Most likely, we will have to live with this virus for a long time, and increases have been observed about two, maybe even three times a year, not only in the winter months, but also in the summer," said Perevoščikovs.
In addition, the new strains bypass previously acquired immunity to some extent.
What to do if you get sick?
If you get sick with Covid-19, you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people. This also applies to children. This should be the case for as long as there are symptoms of the disease, plus an additional three days. But if the illness lasts longer than seven days, there would be no need to stay at home for additional days.
In the event that a person still needs to leave the house, the epidemiologist calls for keeping a distance from others and using a medical mask or respirator in public places.
People with higher risks – the elderly and people with chronic conditions – should think about whether it is worth visiting places with a lot of people and poor ventilation. It is also recommended to wash your hands regularly.
