Post by account_disabled on Feb 28, 2024 4:37:48 GMT -6
Some opinions point out that the omicron variant may be the epilogue of the pandemic , and although it may obviously be true, we should be cautious and be able to differentiate our good wishes from the facts. It is obvious that the omicron variant is producing fewer hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths than previous waves, although the number of hospitalized people is increasing and already exceeds those of the previous wave, and the growing and rapid cumulative incidence curve suggests that the Hospitalizations and deaths will continue to rise for at least another month or two. When assessing the danger of this variant, it must be taken into account that many more tests are being performed (which means the detection of many more asymptomatic cases or those with few symptoms, which were not diagnosed before), that an important part and unquantified population (basically the asymptomatic) has already passed the disease with other variants and developed a certain degree of protection, now the most vulnerable people are protected more, and of course there is a very large percentage of those vaccinated in developed countries, which which can significantly influence the severity data and create false expectations. We do not know the lethality of Omicron if it had been the initial strain of the pandemic, and of course we will never know for sure.
Seems understandable that we all have a tendency to see the optimistic side of the situation, but this has already been repeated in all previous waves with the results that we know, meaning that at the very least we should be more cautious. Playing Cassandra or a doomsayer is not comfortable, but sometimes it is the best way to address health problems. It is called the Malta Phone Number precautionary principle, and its application can prevent serious damage to health and, in the case at hand, many deaths. . Some countries like Germany have adopted this principle at the beginning of this sixth wave and the results are quite good, in Spain we have once again prioritized the economy and optimism over health , and things have not gone very well for us. Thus, things continue to be in the same situation that we already pointed out at the timeIt is not known if the pandemic will disappear completely after reaching its maximum expansion, or will remain as a seasonal epidemic or even as an endemic disease. , and of course we also do not know if this variant will be the last or others will be produced that could be more or less dangerous and even skip the protection of vaccines.
Short, we do not know the main thing about the evolution of the disease (we will only know when the pandemic has been controlled), although we know that vaccines are effective in reducing mortality and its severity. Of course, it may be that the most optimistic perspectives occur and Omicron is nothing more than the last death rattle of the pandemic, and I hope it happens, but it is not certain, and it is within the realm of possibility and even probability, that things will evolve for the worse. . That is why it is important to maintain the precautionary principle and avoid hasty measures that could aggravate the situation: the use of masks, restrictions on crowds and capacity in closed spaces remain crucial, even more so when a mask is not used (hospitality), tracking and isolation of positives and contacts, maintaining vaccination and of course strengthening Public Health and especially Primary Care . Maybe if we act prudently and decisively we can save some avoidable deaths and prevent the next wave.
Seems understandable that we all have a tendency to see the optimistic side of the situation, but this has already been repeated in all previous waves with the results that we know, meaning that at the very least we should be more cautious. Playing Cassandra or a doomsayer is not comfortable, but sometimes it is the best way to address health problems. It is called the Malta Phone Number precautionary principle, and its application can prevent serious damage to health and, in the case at hand, many deaths. . Some countries like Germany have adopted this principle at the beginning of this sixth wave and the results are quite good, in Spain we have once again prioritized the economy and optimism over health , and things have not gone very well for us. Thus, things continue to be in the same situation that we already pointed out at the timeIt is not known if the pandemic will disappear completely after reaching its maximum expansion, or will remain as a seasonal epidemic or even as an endemic disease. , and of course we also do not know if this variant will be the last or others will be produced that could be more or less dangerous and even skip the protection of vaccines.
Short, we do not know the main thing about the evolution of the disease (we will only know when the pandemic has been controlled), although we know that vaccines are effective in reducing mortality and its severity. Of course, it may be that the most optimistic perspectives occur and Omicron is nothing more than the last death rattle of the pandemic, and I hope it happens, but it is not certain, and it is within the realm of possibility and even probability, that things will evolve for the worse. . That is why it is important to maintain the precautionary principle and avoid hasty measures that could aggravate the situation: the use of masks, restrictions on crowds and capacity in closed spaces remain crucial, even more so when a mask is not used (hospitality), tracking and isolation of positives and contacts, maintaining vaccination and of course strengthening Public Health and especially Primary Care . Maybe if we act prudently and decisively we can save some avoidable deaths and prevent the next wave.
