“In essence, we are dealing with a new virus,” Athanasios Tsakris, Vice Rector of EKPA, Professor of Microbiology, and Member of the Committee of Experts, told SKAI about the Omicron mutation.
“The cases are increasing because it is as if we were like last year, without having the vaccine more or less. Same situation, since its transmissibility has nothing to do with the fact that the virus is more contagious, and has no room to be more contagious, it was already very contagious from previous variants. “Omicron has come, and neither those who have been vaccinated nor those who have been ill before can prevent the infection,” he commented. And he clarified:
“A new virus – It will scan”
“In fact, this has happened, it is a new virus, it has a lot of mutations, especially in the area of the spike protein; as a result we can not cope, to fight the infection.”
Regarding the number of cases in our country, the professor noted that the number of reproduction of the pandemic is high precisely for the reasons mentioned. “We will expect even bigger increases, at some point we will have a peak, logically in January, she will scan whatever she finds in front of her the new variant… “he estimated.
He explained that “it makes a difference whether you are vaccinated with three doses, or those who are vaccinated with two doses and the disease is much better at coping with the infection than those who are not vaccinated or those who have been given two doses.” “It seems milder… Whether this is due to the vaccine or to Omicron itself is still under investigation. “It causes pneumonia less often than it looks, but especially in an elderly person who has risk factors, we will also see pneumonia in people who have been infected with Omicron to a lesser extent.”
“A new variant in France”
Asked about the new data from Denmark, and the estimates about the end of the pandemic in two months, Mr. Tsakris commented that this is a pleasant scenario, saying that more or less all because of the vaccine, due to a previous illness we will have immunity that will protect us, but if we remember how coronaviruses work there are constantly new variants.
“It is already being described in France a new variant “With about 30 mutations and 25 deletions of amino acids in its genetic material, which shows the ability of the virus to constantly mutate, we believe in a direction that will not be so pathogenic,” said Mr. Tsakris.
For the schools he stated that if we can ensure that in the coming days the safety of the children will be greater by returning to school, they should open, if not it is good to extend the opening for a week. “Are children safer at school with sanitation and testing?” he wondered.
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