Every 6 months a new variant of COVID: study

 Screenshot of Drilon Çupi while in a live interview with Albanian media

 Dr. Drilon Çupi, a specialist in internal medicine and emergency medicine in Germany, presented to Albanian media the preliminary results of a study conducted in relation to the new variant of COVID, Omicron. Çupi said that this variant was expected to come as new variants appear in the pandemic every 6 months but added that this has caused concern especially in South Africa which is becoming a battlefield of variants where Beta is also active, which does not has appeared more in Europe in recent months.

"Germany is a practical example of vaccination. Looking at the number of new cases and the comparison between countries there is a difference in the links with vaccination rates. People are more skeptical in some lands. This shows even today the numbers where the areas where there are few vaccinations are more infected. Omicron is another variant or mutation that was expected to come as in the pandemic every 6 months develops a new mutation. This brings concern, especially in South Africa. South Africa is also becoming a battlefield of variants of Sars Covd 2 where we also have the Beta variant that in Europe we have not had this time. There were 2,000 daily cases in South Africa on Monday. It has not been proven that all cases are with the Omicron variant but the transmissibility of this virus is much higher than Beta. The second is the increase in positivity.

The positivity of the test is very worrying. The increase in positivity is made by the Omicron variant. The third, are the re-infections. This variant has not yet gone to the risk group. Because in Africa this group is much less than Europe. The WHO has listed this variant with a red light", said the doctor. He pointed out that there are 23 countries that have reported new cases with Omicron and none of them is hospitalized because they are all individuals who do not belong to the risk group and have been in employment with African countries. There are 23 countries that have reported cases with Omicron and no case is in hospitalization. There are almost all individuals who may have been employed in South Africa but have been persons not included in the risk group. "Omicron has the highest rate of re-infection," he said.

The doctor was optimistic about vaccines, stressing that they can be modified to new variants.

"We already have two years of experience with pandemics and some vaccines that can be modified to new variants. Even the inventor of Pfizer-Biotech has stated that in three months the vaccine can be modified against that variant. In Germany, we have a system that has also become known to the population for being divided into tested, vaccinated, and cured. This is a system where the authorities operate. The system for vaccinated and cured people will enter public places", declared the doctor.

Regarding the pandemic situation in our country, Cupi said that measures should be taken now and not after the increase of cases.

"In case we have a large increase in cases, it may be necessary for the system to function for all three criteria. Measures must be taken now and not when we see a large increase in cases. With the end-of-year holidays approaching if I were part of the country's strategy authority, I would take the new variant seriously. Masks must be worn indoors. I think it's not just curfew. I am for keeping the mask under obligation indoors. As for the vaccine, it works. It takes two weeks to identify the new variant. There is a 5 to 10% reduction in vaccine efficacy. The important thing is that the vaccine protects. The figures show when we will emerge from the pandemic. To reach the figure of 80-85% of the full vaccination, we are very far", declared Çupi.