Is the Delta strain still circulating in the country? How to use anti-new coronavirus drugs? Experts from the State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism Answer Hot Issues on Epidemic Prevention

　　Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 27

　　Xinhua News Agency reporters Dong Ruifeng and Gu Tiancheng

　　Recently, the number of newly infected people in some places is in a period of rapid growth, and all localities are trying their best to protect their health and prevent severe illness.

Is the delta variant still prevalent in China?

How should anti-coronavirus drugs be used?

In response to some hot issues of public concern, the State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism organized experts to answer them.

Is the delta variant still prevalent in our country?

　　Recently, there have been rumors on the Internet that both the delta variant and the amicron variant are prevalent in some parts of my country.

　　In this regard, Xu Wenbo, director of the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that according to real-time dynamic monitoring, no Delta variants have been found to be circulating in China, nor have Delta variants and Omicron variants recombined.

From the beginning of December to the present, nine popular sub-clades of the new coronavirus have been monitored in China, all of which belong to the Amicron mutant strain.

Is there a new mutant strain in China?

　　Xu Wenbo introduced that from the beginning of December to the present, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has completed the whole genome sequencing of 1142 cases through sampling surveys, and found that the subclades BA. A total of more than 80%.

In addition, there are 7 subclades of Aomecron variant strains that are also prevalent.

　　Xu Wenbo introduced that no characteristic genome mutations were found in these sub-branches, and they were all imported from abroad.

In December, a total of 31 subclades of Omicron mutant strains were found imported into China, including subclades such as BQ.1 and XBB that are spreading rapidly abroad.

Do different variants lead to reinfection?

　　Wang Guiqiang, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases of Peking University First Hospital, said that for most people with normal immunity, effective immune antibodies will exist in the body within half a year, and the probability of secondary infection with the same strain is extremely low, even if they are infected, they will not be infected again. Severe symptoms can occur.

　　Wang Guiqiang said that if a new mutant strain appears, or a new subclade shows strong immune escape ability, it may lead to reinfection.

According to the immune antibodies in the human body, the shorter the interval between reinfections, the milder the symptoms are usually, and the longer the interval, the more severe the symptoms.

Therefore, after this round of epidemic, everyone should still pay attention to health protection.

How should anti-coronavirus drugs be used?

　　Wang Guiqiang introduced that the elderly, especially those with underlying diseases and who have not been vaccinated, belong to a high-risk group. Early detection and early intervention are required in the face of the epidemic.

Some oral anti-new coronavirus small molecule drugs can be used as soon as possible after the onset or infection is clearly diagnosed, usually within 5 days.

　　Wang Guiqiang said that this type of anti-new coronavirus small molecule drug has the problem of interacting with many other drugs, and also has some side effects, so it must be used under the guidance of a doctor.

In addition, studies have shown that such drugs cannot be used for preventive treatment, and the effect on critically ill patients is not obvious.