Radio România Internațional

Tag: coronavirus pandemic

  • Seasonal flu and the coronavirus pandemic

    Seasonal flu and the coronavirus pandemic

    Centralized results at global level show that in 10 months since the reporting of the first contamination with SARS-CoV-2, the number of COVID-19 cases has exceeded 38 million, with the associated deaths going over 1 million. Finding a vaccine is vital, and while waiting for it, doctors are doing their best to save as many lives as possible.



    According to the most optimistic estimates, a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine might be released in several months, but the epidemiological situation is far from reassuring, given that the number of infections is growing considerably by the day, after a period when the contamination rate was on a downward trend. Around 3 thousand new COVID-19 cases and scores of deaths are announced daily in Romania. Hundreds of patients are in ICUs and the coming cold season is reason enough to worry, given the rise in seasonal flu cases.



    The flu vaccination rate in Romania is below 8%, in the context in which experts recommend a 75% immunization rate. Doctor Adrian Marinescu with the ‘Matei Bals’ Institute in Bucharest told Radio Romania that the people who get infected with both the flu virus and the new coronavirus might develop more severe forms of COVID-19.



    Doctor Marinescu has explained that although flu vaccination is very important, it does not immunize the body against the new coronavirus: “There is no proof of a connection between flu viruses and the coronaviruses group to which SARS-CoV-2 belongs. If people get flu vaccine, they will be better because they won’t get the flu. There is no scientific proof of any link between the two categories of viruses. The new coronavirus can pick up mutations at any time, even major mutations. These changes occur quite fast and they need to be documented. For instance, at present we know that probably in the US and Europe there is a coronavirus type which is more contagious but not more aggressive. This is why we are talking about a second wave of the pandemic and about the way people get infected now.”



    Flu vaccination is the more so important during a pandemic, doctors say, because the combination of the two types of viruses is more likely to cause severe forms of COVID-19 or flu, especially in the vulnerable category: old age and chronic diseases. (tr. L. Simion)

  • When will restrictions be eased?

    When will restrictions be eased?

    We are not
    considering any ease in restrictions over the coming period, the Group for Strategic
    Communication in Bucharest announced, after the public media was flooded with
    various suggestions in this respect. In a press release the Group says that the
    measures taken so far have proven their effectiveness in limiting the spread of
    the coronavirus and the public must strictly observe them over the coming
    period as well. Debates regarding the gradual lifting of restrictions should
    take under advisement the evolution of the epidemic, as well as the need to prevent
    the risk of a second wave of infections. The authorities are submitting
    constant estimates over the evolution of the virus, which are based first and
    foremost on social behavior and citizens’ rate of compliance with the adopted
    measures. As several specialists have announced publicly, the authorities are
    waiting for approximately 10 days to see if the Easter Holidays, when social
    activity somewhat increased, would have an impact on the evolution of COVID-19.
    Health Minister Nelu Tataru:


    We are still
    on an upward trend, the number of infections is going up, so is the death toll.
    Considering the infection rate right now and the fact that only part of society
    observed the isolation and social distancing, we will make an assessment of the
    curb 10 days from now. Once the pandemic peaks, we will have two weeks to
    monitor any drop in the number of infections and deaths, and the evolution in existing
    or future hotbeds of infection. Starting May 15 we may consider an ease in
    restrictions, but I repeat, we are not there yet.


    Minister
    Tataru pointed out that no special restrictions will be imposed on the elderly,
    claiming that authorities will consider all age brackets when easing
    restrictions. Minister Tataru’s statement follows a flow of speculation in
    public media that stirred a great deal of unrest. The Romanian official said
    the ease in restrictions will take into account each geographic region
    separately, depending on infection hotbeds. Some labor sectors will be opened
    and some outlets in shopping centers, while keeping social distancing and
    isolation in place. For certain towns and village and hotbeds we will start by
    stipulating the number of hours we are allowed to go out, including for the
    elderly. This relaxation will also target the areas where we can go out. All of
    that will involve a certain dynamic for each hotbed and location, the moment we
    see the area is safe. The state of emergency is in place until May 15, after
    which point we will reassess, Minister Tataru also said. The analysis of
    measures aimed at easing restrictions will also take into account the
    recommendations of the European Commission and will be carried out in
    coordination with the other Member States.


    (Translated
    by V. Palcu)