Rospotrebnadzor: The spread of “omicron” has slowed down – and not only in Russia

The head of Rospotrebnadzor and the chief sanitary doctor of Russia, Anna Popova, said that the dynamics of development and the onset of “omicron” are becoming slower, RIA Novosti reports. According to her, this concerns a new wave of coronavirus not only in Russia, but also in some European countries.

She also stressed that the Omicron strain in Russia now accounts for slightly more than 50% of new infections, and its high spread rate is due to the fact that it is twice as contagious as the flu virus.

Recall that three subspecies have already been discovered in the new strain. According to the head of the department, specialists are closely monitoring all of them. Also, according to the statistics of Rospotrebnadzor, of the entire mass of those who fell ill with “omicron”, only 5% of patients had covid earlier.

Earlier, Popova reported that cases of the BA.2 “omicron” line were recorded in Russia. It is assumed that this subspecies is more contagious than the “omicron” from which a new wave of infections began.

The omicron strain was first detected last November in South Africa and Botswana. Due to its high contagiousness, it rapidly caused a new wave of coronavirus, characterized by a milder course of the disease.

Earlier, the head physician of hospital No. 40 in Kommunarka, Denis Protsenko, spoke about the characteristic symptoms of a new strain. According to him, “the symptoms are in many ways similar to SARS – fever, nasal discharge, weakness.” The doctor named fever and intoxication as specific symptoms.

Protsenko recalled that the incubation period of covid has been reduced to seven days, and cited data that patients over 65 years of age are most often hospitalized with Omicron.