Mexico is better prepared for Ómicron than at the beginning of the pandemic: specialists

After the General Directorate of Epidemiology through the Institute for Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (InDRE), announced the preliminary result of a positive case for the Ómicron variant in Mexico, specialists consider that the experience left by the previous waves of the pandemic it is an advantage to face this variable and a possible rise in infections.

The federal health authorities have identified, so far, the circulation of the variants of concern, called Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and that of South African origin.

Mauricio Rodriguez Alvarez, professor at the Faculty of Medicine and spokesperson for the UNAM Commission for Covid-19, considered that the current situation in the country is relatively favorable, since there are currently tools and protocols that were not available at the beginning of the pandemic.

There are many options for diagnosis, rapid tests, home, in laboratories, PCR. A very wide availability. There is no longer that limitation that we had in the first wave because there was simply no evidence, “he added.

On the other hand, the specialist explained that he also has the experience of the hospital conversion, since it is now known in which hospitals it can be performed, as well as what elements would need to be carried out in a matter of days.

“Of course those hospitals could not stay as Covid-19 hospitals because it was necessary to return to attend to the population of the habitual illnesses. Surely there is already a database of Covid personnel (…) indicators to start the hospital reconversion ”, he explained.

Also, he considered, the therapeutic options and standardized care protocols for patients are already known.

The spokesperson for the UNAM Commission for Covid-19 He described the situation as much more favorable compared to the three previous waves, however, he stressed the importance of citizens not trusting themselves and lowering their guard. “The fourth wave slows down at home”.

For his part, doctor Alejandro Macías, a professor at the University of Guanajuato indicated that the entry of this variant is worrying, however, he agreed with Rodríguez Álvarez in maintain sanitary measuresjust how to use face mask, avoid massive concentrations of people, get vaccinated and ventilate closed spaces.

The Health Secretary The federal government recalled that despite the fact that research work continues in Mexico and in the rest of the world to identify the characteristics of the Omicron variable, such as transmission patterns, severity, clinical characteristics and risk factors, among others, the WHO states that Vaccination against COVID-19 continues to be essential to reduce the frequency of serious illness and risk of death.