A new variant of Covid-19 in Latvia – how dangerous is it?
Rozentale explained that the new variant of Covid-19 is Omicron: it can be contracted unnoticed, and there is nothing wrong with that. She reminded of what the World Health Organization stated in the fall: this variant of Covid-19 should be treated as a mild illness.
“Currently, the Omicron variant causes a mild course of the disease, but it should be understood that this is mainly the case. There will always be people for whom the illness will progress in a moderate or severe form,” said the professor.
She reported that at the time of the broadcast, there were nine patients with influenza in the Infectology Center’s hospital, two of whom required oxygen. Also in the hospital are eight patients with Covid-19, three of whom also need oxygen. There are patients with lung damage, one of whom is in intensive care.
“What I want to say is: yes, the pandemic is over, but the virus is not going anywhere. It was already clear earlier that a new variant of the coronavirus would emerge,” explained Rozentale.