3 Feb 2022 21:43

Quarantine for Covid-19 contacts to be scrapped - Popova

MOSCOW. Feb 3 (Interfax) - The requirement to quarantine for people who came into contact with those infected with Covid-19 will be dropped as the restrictions no longer work with the Omicron variant, the head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing (Rospotrebnadzor), Anna Popova, said.

"This is something in the epidemic process that is peculiar precisely to Omicron (...) The special measures to restrict contacts simply no longer make sense... This is important in infections caused by another epidemic process: such as measles or mumps. We are now working to formalize everything properly and to talk about cancellation," Popova said in an interview with Nailya Asker-zade on Rossiya-1 (VGTRK) television channel, when asked whether it was too early to cancel quarantine for Covid-19 contacts.

She added: "If there is another variant of the [coronavirus] strain, there will probably be a different epidemiological tactic, such tactic being related to the properties of the pathogen."

The thing about Omicron is that it spreads very quickly from human to human, and a large proportion among all infections are asymptomatic cases: at 17%-20% nationwide, and 40% in Moscow, Popova said.

Speaking of why, despite the large number of mild cases, it is still important to a take coronavirus test, Popova said: "It does make sense for someone who has symptoms, to get tested, definitely, absolutely." For instance, it is important to differentiate between Covid and influenza, she said

"The treatment tactics for Covid and for flu are polar opposites. For example, in the case of Covid, we are afraid of blood clots forming, hence a specific treatment tactic here. For flu, on the contrary, we are afraid of increased bleeding from such condition. And the treatment tactic here is completely different, so the differential diagnosis is crucial," Popova said.

At his meeting with members of the Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia) group earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the restrictions for coronavirus contacts could be lifted in light of the Omicron situation. The problem was recently discussed by Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova with employers and trade unions, who have their own fears on that score, Putin said.

At present, contacts are required to quarantine in Russia for seven days. The requirement does not apply to those vaccinated against Covid-19 or those who had a previous infection and were discharged from hospital in the past six months.