Botir Kurbanov, Deputy Director of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Wellbeing and Public Health Service, Anti-Coronavirus Staff Member, assessed the possibility of penetration of omicron strain of coronavirus into Uzbekistan.
According to him, until January 10 of this year, Uzbekistan suspended flights with several countries due to a new strain of COVID-19. In particular, these are South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Lesotho, Eswatini, Tanzania and Hong Kong.
In addition, Uzbekistan has banned the entry of citizens of these countries, as well as persons who permanently reside in the territory of these states or have been there over the past 14 days.
According to the decision of the Special Commission dated July 19, 2021, 1,398,486 people were checked for coronavirus at border checkpoints. Coronavirus was detected in 3,309 people, of which 1,371 were foreign citizens. 2,077 people were hospitalized and 1,382 people were placed in home quarantine.
It should be recalled that previously, the deputy head of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Wellbeing and Public Health Service Nurmat Otabekov also assessed the possibility of penetration of a new COVID-19 strain into the country.
“Omicron is one of the SARS-CoV-2 mutations. We do not have direct flights with African countries, where the new strain is spreading, but there is a possibility that the disease will penetrate to us through the second and third countries,” he said.
The expert believes that over time, a separate protocol will appear for treating patients infected with the new strain, but existing diagnostic and treatment methods will be effective against the new COVID-19 strain.
Furthermore, Otabekov said that the epidemiological situation can be maintained through the formation of herd immunity.
“Vaccines are effective against any strain. If a person becomes infected with a new strain, then the disease goes away without serious complications when one is vaccinated with all doses. The country also has the opportunity to receive a booster dose of the vaccine,” the specialist said.
In conclusion, he called on Uzbeks to refrain from traveling to countries where the new strain of coronavirus is actively spreading.
