An increase in coronavirus outbreaks was recorded in almost all sectors last week, the National Public Health Center (NVSC) reported.
According to epidemiologists, although the rise in the curve of outbreaks was moderate and reached less than 10%, the total number of active outbreaks exceeded one thousand, and unfavorable trends have been observed on the map of outbreaks for 15 weeks in a row.
A total of 1056 active outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease were recorded in Lithuania at the end of last week, compared to 965 active outbreaks the week before.
"We are in a very serious risk zone. At the moment, we are approaching with all our might a situation where we will not control the threats, but the threats will control us", says Daiva Razmuvienė, a doctor and epidemiologist at NVSC.
According to her, the expansion of active outbreaks is significant - twice as many active outbreaks are observed at the end of October than at the end of September.
"I don't want to scare you, but we may face a situation where doctors in hospitals will have to choose whose life to save, which patient to give hope to." And probably none of us would like to be the one who has to give up without a chance to fight," says the epidemiologist.
According to her, in order to avoid the worst scenario of a pandemic, you need to get vaccinated, as well as take special care of yourself and others, following all hygiene rules, limiting meetings with people you don't normally interact with, if possible - choosing to work remotely.
Last week, epidemiologists recorded the most active outbreaks - 730 - in educational institutions, but as in previous weeks, they are not numerical, that is, the number of related primary cases in most of them does not exceed 10 cases.
A significant increase in outbreaks in the last week of October is also observed in the manufacturing sector. In the 43rd week of the year, 61 active outbreaks were registered in production companies, ie 40%. more than a week ago.
At that time, NVSC specialists also recorded an increase in active outbreaks of the COVID-19 disease in trade, construction, service, and agricultural companies last week, but it was not significant and reached from a few to a dozen percent. Accordingly, 26, 16, 13 and 6 active outbreaks were recorded.
Specialists also found more active outbreaks last week in institutions providing treatment and social services. 90 active outbreaks of coronavirus infection were recorded in medical institutions, compared to 81 a week ago, 18 in institutions providing social services, 16 of them were registered a week ago.
In the food industry sector, the number of active outbreaks of the COVID-43 disease registered in the 19rd week of the year, compared to the period before, did not change - 16 active outbreaks were recorded. The only area where favorable trends are observed last week is the logistics and transport sector. Four active outbreaks were registered in these companies, compared to five a week ago.
The author is Milena Andrukaitytė
