The British strain of COVID-19 may appear in Moscow, but the immunity of the townspeople can protect them from this type of virus. This opinion is shared by Sergey Voznesensky, Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases of the RUDN University.
He explained that the risk of importing the British strain into the capital is real, since Russia has open communication with a number of countries. However, the main question is whether it is able to withstand the immunity that has developed among the inhabitants of the metropolis.
All the studies that are being carried out say that immunity does not depend on the variability that we see today, and the likelihood that the British strain will cause diseases in those who have already had a coronavirus infection is not very high yet - said the associate professor to RIA Novosti.
In his opinion, there are no grounds for pessimistic forecasts.
The British strain of the coronavirus was identified in September 2020. More attention was paid to him in December, when he became dominant in England. It is believed that it can be up to 70% more infectious than previously encountered variants of the coronavirus, and the mortality rate from it is 30% higher. According to the WHO, this type of virus has been found in about 100 countries around the world. At the same time, in half of them cases of transmission of this strain between local residents were recorded, and not just detected among visitors..
Doctor of Medical Sciences, virologist Anatoly Altstein, believes that the British strain may appear in Moscow by the summer.
As NEWS.ru wrote, the Department of Health of the capital told about the readiness for the British strain. The department noted that hospitals and reserve hospitals have all the necessary equipment to treat those infected with COVID-19. Medical facilities are staffed, doctors have accumulated sufficient experience in fighting infection during the pandemic.