Should I wear a mask? What are the symptoms? Ask questions about the BQ.1 strain of the coronavirus

Given the recent rise in Covid-19 cases and the arrival of the omicron BQ.1 subvariant, infectious disease specialists recommend resuming the use of masks in public places, especially where there are agglomerations, such as subways, trains and buses.

The new strain raises concern among experts for its ability to evade antibodies. The strain is responsible for the recent increase in cases in the United States and Europe and has already been identified in Amazonas, Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul.

Once infected, the patient can resort to antiviral medication that reduces the probability of developing severe cases by up to 70% and should be used in the first phase of the disease, according to infectious disease specialist Helio Bacha.

The guidelines to keep your hands sanitized with alcohol in gel and soap continue because they avoid a number of diseases in addition to Covid. Read the answers to some questions below.

Do I need to wear a mask again?

Although the determination of the use of masks in public places is up to state and municipal authorities —in São Paulo, for example, no new measure has been announced in this regard—, for infectious disease specialist Evaldo Stanislau Affonso de Araújo, this support is not necessary. .

I took the four doses of vaccine, am I protected from the subvariant?

Yes, but partially, according to infectious disease specialist Bacha. He explains that, like any vaccine, doses against Covid-19 do not prevent infection, but prevent more serious forms of the disease. In addition, the current subvariant raises concern among experts for its ability to evade antibodies. Even so, the recommendation is to keep the vaccination schedule complete and look for a health center if you have not taken the four doses available.

Do the vaccines available in Brazil protect against the new version of the Ômicron?

The vaccines available protect against more serious forms of the disease, but do not prevent infection, which is only avoided through measures such as wearing masks and keeping hands sanitized. There are, however, vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna adapted to the onomic variant, but the immunizing agent is not yet available in Brazil.

What are the symptoms of the subvariant?

They are the same as previous variations of Covid-19, such as a runny nose, sore throat and general malaise. According to Araújo, the new subvariant tends to cause more discrete effects that cannot be overlooked. “In the face of any symptom, no matter how weak, the ideal is to get tested and avoid contact with other people”, he says. For people with the complete vaccination schedule, the chance of developing severe cases of pneumonia resulting from the infection is remote, according to infectious disease specialist Bacha.

Is the fifth booster needed to stop the omicron subvariant?

For infectious disease specialist Araújo, there are still doubts about the effectiveness of a fifth dose against new variants, in addition to the most vulnerable population, such as the elderly and patients with comorbidities. In addition, the infectious disease specialist draws attention to the delay in vaccinating children aged 6 months to 2 years, who serve as a reservoir and focus for the spread of the virus. “The Ministry of Health has to fix this urgently,” he says.

How to protect children not yet vaccinated?

Visits from family and friends with respiratory symptoms should be postponed and it is worth reinforcing the importance of hand hygiene before contact with the child. If she goes to the day care, learn about the operation of the unit, check if there are adequate points for hand hygiene and if the professionals are oriented towards protective measures.