Vaccination and vigilance are the best allies, today and tomorrow, against the slight increase in new cases of Covid-19 that Morocco has recorded in recent days, health policy and systems researcher Dr Tayeb said on Saturday. Himdi.
“Morocco has experienced a slight increase in new cases of COVID 19 in recent days, without much impact on serious cases and deaths of course, but which must challenge us to make the necessary leap to break the chains of transmission of the virus and slow it down. “said the expert.
We have just exceeded the bar of 200 daily cases, and 3% as a positivity rate. The figures are epidemiologically modest but testify to a possible beginning of an increase in frequency indicators. The severity indicators (serious cases and deaths) remain reassuring, resuscitation occupied at 0.3%.
According to him, this increase can be attributed to at least four main reasons. First, the general relaxation of the population in relation to barrier gestures. With each relief, the message is mistakenly perceived as the end of the pandemic and the disappearance of the virus.
In the wake of post-Ramadan displacement and family gatherings, the BA2 subvariant that took over BA1, and which is more transmissible, has accelerated COVID infections where it has passed in the world. BA2 re-infections are more numerous.
The fourth reason relates to the fact that the immunity acquired by old infections or by vaccination – especially incomplete – erodes over time. If this post-disease or post-vaccination immunity persists and reinforces population immunity against severe forms, it is less and less effective against infections and re-infections.
Mr. Hamdi pointed out that if this populational immunity in Morocco protects the health system against threats of pressure, the individual risk nevertheless remains threatening, especially for vulnerable people among the over 60s or those with chronic diseases (diabetes , high blood pressure, obesity, etc.).
In the absence of complete vaccination including the booster dose, people belonging to this group are still at risk of severe forms of Covid-19, he said, believing that these serious cases will not disrupt hospitals, even less social life, but will be reported daily and increasingly as the spread of the virus accelerates.
Suffice to say, according to him, that protection is now an individual responsibility that everyone must assume for themselves and for the vulnerable in their own environment.
Closed, unventilated spaces and large gatherings being the most risky places, he recommended ventilating closed spaces, avoiding them, hiding in them, spending the minimum time there, carefully managing gatherings and to observe barrier measures during these activities, mainly for the vulnerable.
South Africa has started its fifth wave in recent weeks due to insufficient vaccination (less than 30% of the population), the winter season, and the new BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants, which are much more transmissible. than BA.2. In Portugal, a sixth wave is underway due to the BA.5 variant, which has become the majority in a few weeks.
In Morocco, the winter season will bring its share of an upsurge in viral infections, including Covid-19, and certainly these new sub-variants, not yet present on national soil, will end up being added to the picture of the epidemic.
A winter upsurge accelerated by these sub-variants is to be expected, but above all to be prevented by getting vaccinated and remaining vigilant.
“Two out of three Moroccans are doubly vaccinated, this is good vaccination coverage, but which remains to be reinforced, and especially people at risk (60 years and over, chronic diseases, etc.) are called upon to get vaccinated and to boost themselves, it’s an emergency, it’s a priority, it’s a guarantee of more social freedom in peace and serenity, for a summer season and a return to school without too much risk, ”he underlined.