With the weakening pathogenicity of the Omicron variant, the increasing uptake of vaccinations, and the growing experience of outbreak control and prevention, the rates of hospitalization, severe illness or fatality from Omicron have been significantly reduced,Tong Zhaohui, vice-president of Beijing Chaoyang Hospitalsaid.
"The Omicron variant mainly affects the upper respiratory tract, causing mild symptoms like sore throat and coughing," Tong said . According to him, in the ongoing outbreak in China, mild and asymptomatic cases accounted for 90 percent of the total infections, and there were fewer moderate cases (showing pneumonia-like symptoms). The proportion of severe cases (requiring high-flow oxygen therapy or receiving noninvasive, invasive ventilation) was even smaller.
"This is quite different from the situation in Wuhan (in late 2019), where the original strain caused the outbreak. At that time, there were more severe patients, with some young patients also presenting "white lungs" and suffering acute respiratory failure. While the current round of outbreak in Beijing shows only a few severe cases need ventilators to provide respiratory support in designated hospitals," Tong said.
"Vulnerable groups like seniors with chronic conditions, cancer patients under chemoradiotherapy, and pregnant women during the third trimester usually don't need special treatment as they show no apparent symptoms after being infected with the novel coronavirus. The medical staff will perform the treatment strictly by standards and norms only for those showing symptoms or who have abnormal lung CT scan findings," he said.
"For the elderly patients with underlying diseases, the designated hospitals will arrange multidisciplinary consultation to provide them with professional treatment. If their nucleic acid test turns negative after the treatment, they will be transferred from designated hospitals to other hospitals," Tong added.
More Chinese cities have adjusted their COVID-19 measures to facilitate people resuming work and social activities, as members of the public are being asked to take greater responsibility to protect their own health.
Beijing will no longer require people to show their negative nucleic acid testing results before entering public places such as supermarkets, shopping malls and office buildings starting Tuesday, according to the city government. People only need to scan their health codes before entering those public places.
Some indoor places such as internet cafes, bars, karaoke rooms and certain institutions such as nursing homes, welfare homes, kindergartens and schools will still require the visitors to show negative nucleic acid testing results before entering.
The announcement said all the districts should continue to provide and improve the nucleic acid tests service for the public. It has also reminded the public to wear masks and reduce gathering.
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