Since the beginning of July, a noticeable increase in the proportion of positive Covid-19 tests has been recorded in Latvia, the Disease Prevention and Control Centre (SPKC) told LETA.
The latest epidemiological monitoring data show that Covid-19 cases have shown a noticeable increase over the past two weeks. An increase was found from 2.8% of positive samples in the first week of July to 10.7% in the second week of July and to 13.6% in the third week of July.
Wastewater monitoring results also indicate increased circulation and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, SPKC notes.
A similar trend was observed in May and June in some other European Union (EU) countries, where the situation has now stabilized. Experts from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control note that this year, the increase in summer cases of Covid-19 began earlier than in previous years.
As a representative of the State Research Institute Bior told LETA, during weekly monitoring of wastewater in the largest municipalities of Latvia, a rapid increase in the new Covid-19 variant KP.3 can be observed.
The fastest growth is observed in Salaspils, the new variant KP.3 has also been detected in wastewater in Riga, Jurmala, Liepaja, Daugavpils and Jelgava.
According to information collected by the World Health Organization, KP.3 is part of a newly identified group of variants called FLiRT, which is part of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron lineage.
In addition to KP.3, FLiRT variants also include KP.2 and KP.1.1.
The SPKC says the rise in Covid-19 cases in early summer was driven by risk factors such as increased human contact, intensive travel and reduced immunity to Covid-19 infection.
Like all previous strains of the Omicron variant, KP.1, KP.2 and KP.3 are able to overcome acquired immunity against Covid-19 infection more easily, spread faster and remain the dominant pathogens. Covid-19 has been causing another moderate increase in cases for some time. However, according to SPKC, there is still no evidence that new strains of the SARS-Cov-2 virus, including strains of the KP group, can cause a more severe clinical course in patients or very high morbidity.
The SPKC also emphasizes that thanks to immunity acquired through vaccination and/or natural infection, people are now much better protected against serious diseases that can be caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus.
«It is therefore important that people at risk – the elderly and patients with chronic diseases – continue to receive seasonal vaccination against Covid-19, as well as vaccination against seasonal influenza. According to the current recommendations for vaccination against Covid-19, patients in the Risk Group are offered vaccination once a year, before the winter season.“, SPKC notes.
«It is therefore important that people at risk, such as older people and patients with chronic diseases, continue to receive seasonal Covid-19 vaccinations as well as seasonal influenza vaccinations. According to current Covid-19 vaccination recommendations, patients at risk are offered vaccination once a year, before the winter season.“, SPKC notes.
Source: www.gorod.lv
