This is what a British medical microbiologist warns based on comprehensive studies from all over the world. She calls on the decision-makers not to shorten the isolation and release into the environment people who may be infected * Her findings are also relevant to Israel, which is about to adopt the procedure that began in the USA
By Dr. Sally Coulter, Microbiologist, University of East London
Before the Omicron, people in the UK with corona symptoms or a positive test had to self-isolate for ten days. But when the new strain arrived, the government changed the self-isolation period to seven days. In the US, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that in light of what is known about the micron, they are changing the self-isolation period to five days.
Now the British Minister of Health has announced that the self-isolation period of people with a positive corona test will be shortened to five days in England, and they will be able to leave isolation after two negative antigen tests (to be done 24 hours apart) from the fifth day, regardless of their status in terms of vaccinations. As a medical microbiologist, I am concerned because there is little scientific evidence to justify the safety of these reduced measures. Editor's note: A similar decision was made today by the Ministry of Health in Israel.
Some claim that the omicron is "moderate" and does not cause a sharp increase in hospitalizations, but it must be remembered that this wave spreads in the population with a large degree of protection resulting from a combination of natural infection and immunity derived from vaccines. The biggest impact, certainly in the UK, seems to be the absences that cause essential services to struggle to function. So do economic factors outweigh scientific reasons in the plans to manage the corona?
We will examine the scientific reasons for the recommended isolation periods. In a comprehensive systematic review in the United Kingdom of 79 articles from around the world, shedding of viruses in 5,340 infected people was reviewed. Assess not only the viral load determined by PCR, which can remain positive for some time after clinical recovery, but also whether these people are contagious. The review showed a low viral load in the first two days, but then a peak around the third to sixth day, and then a decline on the seventh to ninth day to non-infectivity on the tenth day. That is, the data supports ten days of isolation.
In a Japanese study that has not yet been published, we examined the shedding of viruses attributed to Leumicron, and there, too, they found that the most shedding of viruses is on the third to sixth day after the onset of symptoms. In addition, a small study by the University of Exeter found that one in three people were still potentially contagious after five days.
The scientific evidence shows that on the fifth day people will still shed viable viruses, which can potentially cause a significant spread of the corona virus. So what is the scientific evidence that the government relies on to shorten the isolation periods?
social and economic pressures
Antigen tests are a quick and practical way to measure infectivity, but they are done at home and not always according to strict criteria, meaning the results can be wrong. Taking the matush sample is critical in performing the test, and the tester should report the test results correctly. Social and economic pressures can tempt the examiner to violate the examination and reporting procedures.
When you shorten the isolation period to five days, you run the risk of returning infected people to the community when they are at the peak of the spread of infectious viruses. It is rash and dangerous towards those around them. People want to feel safe when they are out, and to know that other people are being properly screened and isolated until they are no longer a danger to others.
I strongly urge the policy makers to examine the scientific data and draw logical, informed and correct conclusions.
More of the topic in Hayadan:
5 תגובות
What is written here is very serious.
It sounds very logical that five days of isolation is not enough and people who are still contagious return to the community.
It should be updated immediately for 7-10 days of isolation.
You're right.
Only no one knows when we will be infected and when to count the days. Except for experimenters in laboratories.
You wanted a change, didn't you? Here you have received a change! Lol a dysfunctional government is triggered by irrelevant pressures from underdeveloped communities
To keep Shabbat in Parshasia
The Omcron is used to vaccinate the population, therefore there is no point in isolation, the question of whether it is moral is another question