Public Health confirms Ómicron case in the Dominican Republic
The Ministry of Health confirmed the identification in one of the samples the presence of the variant B.1.1.529 (Ómicron) of SARS-CoV-2, detected in an individual from South Africa.
This is an imported case (transmission outside the Dominican territory) from a person who presented mild symptoms, for which he received outpatient medical care, and subsequently progressed satisfactorily.
In this case, the appropriate measures were taken, according to the epidemiological surveillance procedures for COVID-19 in the country, says the Public Health statement.
After this case, the General Directorate of Epidemiology received the notification from the National Liaison Center for International Health Regulations of Chile, reporting the case of a person who traveled from the DR to Chile, and who after a PCR test gave positive to the Omicron variant; Faced with these cases, DigepI continues to investigate other possible cases of Ómicron in the country.
In the statement Public Health states that: “Although the findings and preliminary data, both epidemiological, modeling, phylogenetic and clinical suggest that SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01 has higher transmissibility, the preliminary analyzes to date do not indicate changes. in the severity of the disease (measured by the length of hospitalization and the fatality rate at 28 days), or the occurrence of reinfection among cases positive for this variant compared with cases by other lineages of SARS-CoV-2 circulating in different countries. Even without observing more seriousness in the cases, the increase in transmissibility is important, because it is associated with a transcendental impact on public health, due to the increase in cases in a limited period of time ”.
In that sense, the Ministry of Public Health urged the entire population that, given these results, it maintains permanent monitoring of the circulation of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the Dominican territory.
Public Health recommendations:
– Continue to strengthen preventive measures such as hand washing, use of masks and maintain physical distance.
– Avoid crowds of people and closed places where many people can gather.
– If in doubt, go to a health establishment or consult your doctor.
To the authorities of entry points (ports, airports and land border crossings):
– Follow the indications of the Algorithm for identifying cases at Entry Points and tracking travelers contained in the procedure for surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
To the Provincial Directorates / Health Areas, and the providers of public and private health services, non-profit organizations and military and police health services:
– Strengthen the activities of notification, investigation and follow-up of cases and contacts.
– Carry out a timely sample collection from people who meet the case definition established in the surveillance procedure for COVID-19 in force.
– Apply standard precautionary measures based on transmission for the prevention and control of infections in the management of all cases, available on the website of the General Directorate of Epidemiology.
Likewise, they maintain the call to the population to be vaccinated, since vaccination continues to be the best protection against COVID 19. For the general population to receive the first dose and continue with the second dose and later complete the scheme by placing a third dose of reinforcement.