Incidence of COVID-19 in Moscow is growing due to the spread of the omicron strain, Sergei Sobyanin said in an interview with the Rossiya 1 TV channel.
“To date, it is safe to say that more than half of the patients are infected with the omicron strain. And this week, the incidence rates per day will already be about six to seven thousand new diseases identified. This is already quite a lot. But I think this is not the limit. The incidence will continue to grow next week, taking into account the picture that we see in other countries and cities,” said the Mayor of Moscow.
According to Sergei Sobyanin, it is premature to call the new strain less severe.
“We also want it to be like this, but we need to prepare for any scenario. Indeed, we see that the number of cases of moderate and severe course of the disease is less than in the previous wave. And despite the increase in the number of newly diagnosed cases, the number of hospitalizations does not increase. But it should be borne in mind that today the virus is most likely circulating among the active young and middle-aged population. What it will look like when it reaches the older generation, chroniclers and so on, is unknown, it seems to me there will be a different picture,” the Mayor of Moscow explained.
Sergei Sobyanin added that one of the most powerful laboratory systems in the world was created in Moscow during the pandemic. Every day it can process up to 70 thousand PCR tests. The largest laboratory in the capital is the Diagnostic Center for Laboratory Research.
“This laboratory is one of the most powerful in the country. It is this laboratory that gives us accurate data on the spread of the new omicron strain to a fraction of a percent. The studies are absolutely accurate, giving almost a 100% guarantee of accuracy. This equips us with new knowledge, the ability to respond in a timely manner to the new challenges of the omicron strain,” the Mayor of Moscow stressed.