The following information was released at a recent press conference on COVID-19:

Previous tracing results of Putuo cases showed that

Gene sequencing analysis was performed in the laboratory of Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention

The Novel coronavirus infection of the cases in this outbreak is

Omicron mutant

The citizens found that

The number of asymptomatic cases in Shanghai has increased recently

Is omicron weak?

· The characteristics of the Omicron variant cause many infected people to show “asymptomatic” symptoms.

National COVID – 19 medical treatment expert group members, zhongshan hospital affiliated to fudan university professor bi-jie hu director infection diseases and infection management section, told reporters that the mutation strains pathogens has its own change, in general, people infected with lower respiratory tract infection rate decreased significantly, some people have a headache, fever percentage drops hot symptoms also have no, morbidity.

Experts further analyzed that the characteristics of the pathogen were closely related to the clinical manifestations of the infected. At the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, the mutant pathogen was prone to lower respiratory tract infection, which showed imaging changes and was accompanied by fever and cough. Asymptomatic infections were rare. Back in 2003, the SARS virus was also a coronavirus, a pathogen that causes severe illness. The omicron variant in the current epidemic has mild or no symptoms, which is one reason why many infected people are asymptomatic.

· Related to immunization

Professor Wu Fan, a member of the Shanghai Public health expert group on epidemic prevention and control and vice president of Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, previously mentioned that in addition to the mutation, the proportion of asymptomatic infections will also increase due to mass immunization and enhanced immunity of the population.

Bi-jie hu said, after the vaccination built a “immune wall” in the crowd, the crowd resistance increased, this means that the virus will not thrive, once the virus concentration increases, vaccine, antibody response, although viral load will test (positive), but I can’t play out virulence (no symptoms).

· It is also possible that the disease is at an early stage and has not yet shown symptoms

In the interview, experts also mentioned that asymptomatic infected persons do not exclude a situation: that is, they are in the early stage of the disease and have not yet shown symptoms, but may show symptoms after a period of time. At present, Shanghai is under the double pressure of “preventing imported cases from abroad and rebounding from within”, and the investigation and screening of cases are very meticulous.

Asymptomatic infected persons in Shanghai are being quarantined for 14 days in strict accordance with national standards. After the 14-day quarantine, asymptomatic infected persons can be released from quarantine only after two consecutive nucleic acid tests are negative.

The omicron variant faced with “off the charts” transmission power

Are regular masks still effective?

Will it be reinfected?

Dr. Shi Qingfeng of infection management department of Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University gave answers to several questions of public concern.

· Are regular masks still effective?

According to experts, the novel Coronavirus mutation has enhanced transmission mainly because it can infect more respiratory cells in a short period of time, leading to the early onset of clinical symptoms. However, the mode of transmission is still mainly based on respiratory droplets, so the standard wearing of qualified masks is still one of the most effective prevention and control measures. Before wearing a mask, we need to confirm the inside and outside of the mask, and then wrap the rubber band behind the ear, and open the mask. Remember to press the nose clip along the bridge of the nose. Wash hands thoroughly after removing the mask.

· There is no need to worry if the pathogenicity is weak?

Although omicron is highly contagious, it mainly infects the nasopharynx, the upper respiratory tract, and can become severe once the virus reaches the lungs. Recently, tens of thousands of people in Hong Kong are infected every day, and more than 100 new deaths occur every day. Low pathogenicity does not mean no pathogenicity. Therefore, the public should not take Omicron lightly.

· If you have been infected with other COVID-19 strains, will you be re-infected with Omicron?

Although some immunity can be acquired after COVID-19 infection, Omicron is a relatively new mutant, and antibodies previously obtained may not fully neutralize omicron. Of the 3,582 new positive cases tested in the UK in January, two thirds had been infected with the Novel Coronavirus in the past. Therefore, people who have been infected with COVID-19 in the past should not think that they can rest easy, let alone take personal protection lightly in daily life.

· “Omicron” is the flu?

Shi Qingfeng is clear: this comparison is not appropriate. Although it has mild symptoms, it is much more contagious than influenza. In terms of sequelae, foreign data show that COVID-19 has far more sequelae than influenza. In addition, the infection rate among family members was 15.8 percent, higher than delta’s 10.3 percent and much higher than influenza. Therefore, the public should not treat Omicron with the mentality of dealing with flu.

During repeated outbreaks in China

How can people strengthen self-protection?

Shanghai Health Promotion Center today also issued a reminder:

When people come back from going out,

Wash your hands after touching public objects, sneezing or coughing.

In particular, the municipal Health Promotion Center points out that wearing gloves daily is not a substitute for hand hygiene; If people do not have running water outside, they can use hand sanitizer to clean their hands. However, hand sanitizer cannot replace hand washing. The best method is “running water + hand sanitizer/soap”.

Adhere to the “epidemic prevention of three sets”, keep in mind the “five protection”, which is the most effective, the most convenient, the most economical way to prevent infectious diseases.