Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-07-01 Origin: Site
In March this year, about two years after the COVID-19 epidemic swept the United States, the San Francisco Chronicle asked experts in the Bay Area: is it inevitable to be infected with novel coronavirus?
At that time, the answer was No. Although the number of cases caused by the Omicron variant is higher than ever before, experts say that people who continue to take reasonable preventive measures to prevent contact, vaccination and booster shots can avoid being recruited in the near future at least.
Since then, the sub variant of Omicron has once again caused a surge in the number of cases around the world, even those who have not been infected have been infected, and some people have even been infected again.
This prompted the San Francisco Chronicle to continue to ask the same experts. This time, they were asked: for those who have not yet been infected, does the chance of avoiding novel coronavirus become more slim?
Their answer remains largely unchanged: although it is now more difficult to avoid infection with new crowns, it is not
impossible to avoid infection, at least in the short term.
Dr. Bob Wachter, President of UCSF School of medicine, said: "I still don't think infection is inevitable, but the possibility of avoiding infection has decreased since March."
Last month, waht reported that his wife, journalist and writer Katie Hafner, was infected with novel coronavirus after more than two years of avoidance. Last week, he went on to say that his wife had some symptoms of sequelae.
However, "I am still not infected, and I am still relatively careful, such as not eating indoors and using kn95 in indoor space," waht told the chronicle. "I think my chances of not being infected this year are fifty-five."
"It's all math," wacht added He said that as of the end of February, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 40% of the U.S. population continued to be exposed to high levels of the virus.
But now, with the advent of each new variant, the virus is "better at infecting humans and avoiding immunization to a certain extent," he said. At the same time, he pointed out that many people who used to be very careful began to relax their vigilance, "because they are tired and because they (correctly) perceive that the risk of serious acute cases (hospitalization or death) has decreased a lot."
He said that the risk of sequelae of the new crown is very real, but it is not as obvious to people as "acute injury".
He believes that these two factors - more infectious variants and less vigilance - will keep cases at high levels, making it more difficult for people to avoid infection, although it is still possible.
Dr. Peter chin Hong, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco, said in March this year that from a biological point of view, everyone may eventually be infected with the new crown. But he warned that this was not the time to "embrace this idea".
Now, he said, "because more and more ghosts of infectious mutations are approaching... Not only will more people be infected, but it will be easier for people to be infected again." He pointed out that the Biden Administration recently estimated that as many as 100million people might be infected with the virus in autumn and winter.
However, he hopes that the upcoming "2.0 enhanced needle" can more effectively prevent breakthrough infections, while other developments, such as vaccines for the smallest children and improved treatment for high-risk groups, can protect those infected with the virus.
He urged people to get a booster and a second shot for people over the age of 50. "The older you get, the more urgent it is to get vaccinated to prevent serious diseases and deaths," he said
Dr. abraar Karan, an infectious disease expert at Stanford University, expressed his view in March this year that large-scale infections are not inevitable, but efforts to prevent them are still crucial. However, he said that the responsibility for such prevention could not fall entirely on individuals, and did not rely solely on isolation and masks.
"Personal responsibility can only get them to this point," he said. Community responsibility is also essential.
He pointed out that because the virus is so contagious, even the most cautious people may be infected from their less careful circle of friends and family, including himself.
"In the past, wearing the N95 was basically safe," Karan said Now, that is not the case - although masks are still useful and important, he believes that more can be done to improve indoor air quality in private and public spaces - a measure he has been advocating during the pandemic - he says that regardless of the variant, it will reduce community transmission and make public spaces safer for everyone.
He pointed out that better ventilation and air filtration will not only help prevent the spread of the new crown, but also help any other airborne diseases, allergens, and even smoke from wildfires.
"There are no disadvantages, only advantages," he said.
Karan believes that simply giving up and allowing the infection to occur also has far-reaching economic implications, because it can take many people out of work at the same time - as happened in his own hospital.
"What people don't realize is that even if we can't eliminate the new crown, low-level infection is a worthwhile goal. Stopping the huge waves should be the goal. If we stop super spreading events, this can be achieved," he said on twitter. "There are many ways to do this! We haven't done any at present."
