“Slow growth rate is maintained”: chief sanitary doctor of the Russian Federation - on the situation with the spread of COVID-19 in Russia

The rate of increase in patients with a new type of coronavirus infection in Russia remains slow, not exceeding 20%, Anna Popova, head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare, told reporters during a briefing.

“Today, the incidence of coronavirus remains the number one topic in almost all countries of the world. I would like to say that the Russian Federation maintains a very smooth, slow growth rate, not exceeding 20% ​​of daily growth, and keeping it from 14% to 17% per day, ”Popova said.

The head of the department recalled that in epidemiology it is customary to operate with relative indicators of cases for a certain volume of the population. “The indicator of the Russian Federation per 100 thousand people is about 17. This is five times lower than Canada, ten times lower than Germany, and 20 times lower than in Switzerland. We consider such a comparison to be much more correct, ”the specialist noted.

“I can definitely say: the effect of all the measures that we take today is today. The growing numbers are completely objective, and we are not afraid to tell the full truth, to name all the numbers, ”Popova emphasized.

According to her, the detectability of COVID-19 has increased in Russia due to the continued increase in the number of tests carried out - according to this indicator, the country ranks second in the world (more than 1.71 million studies have been conducted to date, 104.6 thousand over the last day alone .).

“Two weeks ago, in the specific gravity of the total number of infected people, the number of people without symptoms who have a virus but no symptoms was 10-12%, maximum 20%, and in recent days the proportion of such people has been between 45-50% . This is an important, significant figure that shows the activity of detecting infected people in the Russian Federation. Despite the fact that the proportion of pneumonia is practically not growing, ”Popova added.

Over the last day in Russia, 4070 new cases of coronavirus infection were confirmed in 81 regions of the country. In total, 32 008 cases of COVID-19 infection have been registered since the beginning of the epidemic in all 85 regions of the Federation.

In total, 273 deaths (0.85%) were recorded in Russia, 41 of them over the last day. At the same time, 2590 people recovered from coronavirus infection (8.1%).

Almost half of new cases of the disease (1959) were detected in Moscow. Since the beginning of the epidemic, 18 105 patients with COVID-19 have been recorded in the capital. Of these, 1517 people recovered, the number of deaths from complications reached 127.

According to information from the operational headquarters to combat the spread of infection, almost 90% of new cases are younger than 65 years old. 52% are between the ages of 18 and 45, 32% are between 46 and 65, and 5% are children. The age category 66–80 years includes 7.5% of new cases, another 3.5% are older than 80.

According to the Moscow Department of Health, on the evening of April 16, most of the 14 patients who died the day before in the capital had concomitant diseases, including hypertension, cardiosclerosis, atherosclerotic aneurysm, and diabetes mellitus.

“Among the dead - patients from 29 to 88 years. The 29-year-old and 39-year-old men were diagnosed with bilateral subtotal viral and bacterial pneumonia with a hemorrhagic component, the report said.

Peak Disease Expectations and Donor Plasma

Moscow Deputy Mayor for Social Development Anastasia Rakova suggested that COVID-19 incidence peak will fall in the coming weeks.

“The near future will be the most difficult for us. The peak incidence is likely to occur in the next two to three weeks, ”said Rakova.

She emphasized that the effectiveness of the struggle of Moscow against the pandemic depends not only on health workers, but also on the decisions of the authorities and the consciousness of citizens in observing the rules.

Rakova also said that the Moscow authorities will soon adopt a regulatory act establishing cash payments for ill plasma donors COVID-19.

This material began to be used in the treatment of coronavirus last week. According to doctors, this is a good way to fight infection. In this regard, in particular, the chief doctor of the 52nd hospital in Moscow, Maryana Lysenko, spoke out.

“We have now begun a protocol for the use of antibody plasma from patients who have had an infection. We are still at the beginning of the journey, but we see that this is a working history, ”Lysenko said on the air of the Russia 1 television channel.

Previously, Rakova said that in order to combat the spread of coronavirus, all patients with acute respiratory viral infections will be issued a mandatory self-isolation order. According to TASS with reference to the operational headquarters, the same rules will apply to them as to quarantine violators with a diagnosis of COVID-19, - to fine in case of violation of self-isolation.

Against the background of the spread of COVID-19, it became known that the Russian government ordered the use of an unregistered Chinese drug, Hydroxychloroquine, for the treatment of coronavirus infection.

According to the order published on the legal information portal, the medicine in the amount of 68,600 packages was delivered free of charge from the PRC. At the same time, the National Medical Research Center for Cardiology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation was instructed to use, store and distribute the drug among medical institutions. The safety of the application and the analysis of the effectiveness of Hydroxychloroquine was entrusted to the Roszdravnadzor.

Recommendations of the Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Emergencies

Meanwhile, the Rospotrebnadzor said that in order to end the self-isolation regime more quickly, it is important to comply with current restrictions.

“The more responsible we are in the regime of time constraints, the faster we will be able to return to an active life and everyday affairs,” the department emphasized.

Citizens are advised to be at home, if possible communicate with relatives only remotely, wash their hands with soap.

“Temporary restrictions are necessary in order to protect ourselves, our loved ones and protect the people around us from harm,” the Rospotrebnadzor noted.

In turn, the Ministry of Emergency Situations drew recommendations for wearing protective masks.

“The mask is appropriate if you are in a place of crowded people, in public transport, as well as in caring for the sick, but it is not practical in the open air. During your stay on the street it is useful to breathe fresh air and you should not wear a mask, ”the Ministry of Emergencies said in a statement.

The department reminded that the mask should be carefully fixed, tightly covering the mouth and nose. Also, the Ministry of Emergencies recommended not touching the surfaces of the mask when removing it, otherwise you need to wash your hands thoroughly.