90% of the total viral load in the municipal waste of Thessaloniki is estimated the presence of the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2, in the latest measurements for the research conducted by the Sewage Epidemiology Team of AUTh with EYATH, in collaboration with the Central Region Macedonia and in the context of the National Network of EODY.
At the same time, as shown in the diagrams presented by , for the first time after the explosive increase that was recorded from the last days of December onwards, there are signs of slowing down the growth rate of viral load, but at the highest level from the beginning of the pandemic. The presence of the most infectious Delta strain is recorded in a declining course.
Specifically, in the samples taken daily at the entrance of the Thessaloniki Wastewater Treatment Plant, regarding the rationalized values ​​of relative viral load secretion, the average value of the two most recent measurements, ie Monday 03/01/2022 and Tuesday 04/01/2022 is:
– Stable (+ 1%) in relation to the average value of the two immediately preceding measurements of Saturday 01/01/2022 and Sunday 02/01/2022.
– Increased (+ 71%) compared to the average price of the previous Monday 27/12/2021 and Tuesday 28/12/2021.
“It is important to mention that the Omicron strain in absolute numbers continues to grow, but at a much slower rate compared to the period 19-29 / 12. At the same time, from 30/12 onwards, there is a reduction in the Delta load, which is attributed to the reduced mobility of citizens and the observance of measures after Christmas and not to the large dispersion of Omicron in the community. It is not ruled out that this trend may be reversed in the near future and this depends to a large extent on the mobility of citizens and the observance of self-protection measures. Certainly, however, the decline of the Delta record is a positive development, as it is this strain that leads to hospitalizations and causes pressure on the city’s hospitals. In any case, even though from international experience it seems that the Omicron strain is characterized by a shorter duration between the peak and the de-escalation of the wave, it is still too early to consider a temporary halt in the growth rate of the virus, “he said. at APE-MPE the rector of AUTh and scientifically responsible for the research project, Professor Nikos Papaioannou.
“Given that the spread of the virus is enormous and given that due to the characteristics of the milder disease from the Omicron strain there are many asymptomatic carriers in the community, it is extremely important that we all be very careful in dealing with people belonging to vulnerable groups. It is equally important for parents to protect their children by planning their vaccination “, added Mr. Papaioannou.
The rapid prevalence of the Omicron strain, as recorded by the measurements in the sewage and the rapid increase of the daily confirmed cases, has not been accompanied by an increase in admissions to the Hippocratic Hospital, according to Emidilou, professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
“The downward stabilization of imports that followed the big increase in November from Delta continues until the last shifts. The scenario of the mildest disease causes us moderate optimism, despite the large increase of the load in the sewage “, explained Mr. Roilidis.
The coronavirus assessment methodology in municipal waste, developed by the Sewage Epidemiology Team of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, streamlines the measurements of virus genome concentration based on 24 environmental factors, which can alter the results of the measurements. The molecular method of real-time PCR, developed by the AUTh Team, has the ability to selectively amplify the part of the genome that encodes the spike protein of the Omicron strain.
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