The high contagiousness and less severe course of the disease in the “omicron” strain of coronavirus may indicate that the European Region has approached a new phase of the pandemic. Melita Vujnovich, representative of the World Health Organization in Russia, stated this to Izvestia.

According to her, in countries where the level of vaccination is quite high, the increase in cases of the Omicron strain does not lead to such a burden on health care systems as with previous versions of the virus. She noted that most of those who need hospitalization have not been vaccinated.

“If we quickly increase vaccination coverage in countries where it is lagging behind, it is likely that we can end the acute phase of the pandemic in 2022. This will mean that we can focus on managing potential surges in the future with more targeted measures. However, further variants and mutations of the virus are always possible, and one should be prepared for this, ”said the WHO representative.

Earlier, US Chief Infectionist Dr. Anthony Fauci said that the full-blown phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US was nearing its end. The specialist said that he hopes for a gradual lifting of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic in a few months.

According to Alexander Gintsburg, director of the Gamaleya Center, 80% of the world's population needs to be vaccinated to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

bbabo.Net