Authored by the Central Coordination Office for Prevention and Control of Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance of Grupo Luz Saúde The end of the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic is approaching. So far, the official data is, worldwide: Around 634 million cases and around 6.5 million deaths, a number that is certainly underestimated; A peak of cases and mortality on January 21, 2021, with 3848 thousand cases and 16857 deaths. Data for Portugal point to: The 49 th position in the total of countries with about 5.5 million cases and a total of 25209 deaths; The peak of cases occurred on January 27, 2022, with 69625 cases; The mortality peak was reached on January 31, 2021, with 297 deaths. It is very present in everyone memory the personal, family and society drama caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and some lessons must be learned so that the future will be different. We are now better protected from infection caused by SARS-CoV-2: We developed defenses by exposure to the virus and, essentially, by vaccination; Portugal has one of the highest vaccination rates, with around 249 doses administered per 100 inhabitants. This places the country in 2 nd in Europe, only behind Malta, and among the best in the world. However, as with other infectious diseases, vaccination is not completely protective . Its greatest value is due to the reduction of transmission of the virus and the severity of the infection. However, in its adaptation process and natural selection, viral variants tend to escape immunity, a phenomenon whose dimension cannot be anticipated. What do we anticipate? Despite the constraints resulting from much lower testing, in recent weeks there has been an increasing trend in cases, which was expected given the seasonal behavior that the virus tends to adopt, as with other respiratory viruses, such as the flu virus. On the other hand, co-infection between these viruses can cause situations whose severity cannot be foreseen. In view of the cases increase and a possible immune escape, organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have recently warned of the need to (re)adopt safe behaviors , such as the use of masks in public transport and adequate ventilation of closed spaces, and the need to maintain testing strategies that allow the estimation of pandemic activity and the early detection of new variants . This is the case of BQ.1, derived from the BA.5 variant of Omicron, which could become dominant and whose vaccine escape and subsequent severity and mortality are still unknown. What safe behaviors should we adopt? SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus and is transmitted when : We cough or talk, in which case the transmission occurs by droplets. These particles are transmitted up to 1.5 meters away; We sneeze, in which case the transmission occurs by aerosols. These are very small particles that diffuse in the air over long distances; These particles can also remain on surfaces for varying periods, but this is not the main transmission mechanism. Although transmission is possible when there are no symptoms, people who have cough or sneeze are more likely to spread it to those they live with. Therefore, a mask should be put on by people who are positive for SARS-CoV-2 , even though they are not required to be isolated, or who have symptoms suggestive of flu or cold , especially if they have a cough or sneezing, or a sore throat, when they are with other people. This means that they should not share meal times or other social times with people with whom they do not live in the same home. This remains one of the most important measures for preventing viral transmission in workplaces, public transport, and all other closed areas, including restaurants and the home when there are visitors. Also, even if a mask is not being used in the aforementioned contexts, whenever coughing or sneezing, the inner face of the elbow should be used to contain the transmission of respiratory particles. Proper hand hygiene with soap and water or with antiseptic solutions, after using the toilets, coughing, sneezing, touching the masks or surfaces in common use, especially when arriving home, continues to be one of the most important measures to prevent the transmission of respiratory viruses, including flu virus and SARS-CoV-2. In summary, for a safer autumn-winter 2022-2023: Follow the authorities recommendations on vaccination against COVID-19 and flu; Wear a mask in the aforementioned situations and whenever you cough and/or sneeze; If you are positive for SARS-CoV-2, have fever, cough and/or sneezing or have sore throat, do not share meals and other social moments with other people you do not normally live with; Wash your hands often. Despite all the favorable developments, the COVID-19 pandemic is not over and proper behaviors are the main weapon to fight the transmission of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. References European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant sub-lineage BQ.1 in the EU/EEA – 21 October 2022. ECDC: Stockholm; 2022. Our World in Data. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations , consultado a 27 de outubro de 2022. World Health Organization. Disease Outbreak News (DONs) , consultado a 27 de outubro de 2022. Worldometer. COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic , consultado a 27 de outubro de 2022. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
