B. Sagintayev: Mass vaccination will allow the city to return to the usual rhythm of life
Akim of the city Bakhytzhan Sagintayev, during the live broadcast of the Akimat Live program on the TV Channel "Almaty", reported a tendency towards a decrease in the cases of COVID among citizens.
Over the past day, 3,197 people were vaccinated in Almaty. As of May 18, a total of 277,144 people were vaccinated against COVID. Of these, 30,518 are persons over 60 years of age. Today in Almaty, there are 214 vaccination points in medical organizations, schools, cultural and sports facilities, markets and the city's shopping and entertainment centers. 315 vaccination teams of 1 282 people have been involved.
Over the past day, 525 cases of COVID have been registered in the city, the daily increase remains at the same level - 0.8%. There is a wave-like dynamics with a tendency to decrease both the daily increase (from 1.1 a week ago to 0.7 - 0.9%) and the incidence rate for the last 7 days from 192.5 to 200.1.
The increase in the proportion of symptomatic patients slowed down: if in January-March it was 70-78%, then in April - 86%, in the first 10 days of May - 98%, in 15 days of May - 88%.
As of May 19, 65,109 cases of coronavirus infection were registered in the city, of which 49,986 were symptomatic and 15,123 without symptoms, 1,683 cases of unspecified pneumonia.
There were 525 cases of coronavirus infection, of which 470 were symptomatic and 55 were asymptomatic, 3 cases of pneumonia.
In infectious diseases hospitals, where 6,060 beds are deployed today, there are 2,837 people (100 children), of which 83 are in extremely severe, 694 in severe, 2,060 are of moderate severity. Discharged - 320 patients, admitted - 250. In the ICU in total - 192 people (258 free beds). On ventilator - 28, on non-invasive ventilator - 57 patients, 77 High flow devices are employed.
Analysis of the age composition of patients with COVID, according to the last 2 weeks, did not reveal significant changes, except for a continuing insignificant increase in the incidence among citizens over the age of 60 (by 0.2% to 1.5% for 7 days before May 1 of this year) and an increase of 0.5% among 20-39 year olds.
The gradual stabilization of the situation is facilitated by mass vaccination against COVID. Therefore, as B. Sagintayev's emphasized, the townspeople need to be more actively involved in the process of forming collective immunity.
As before, as in the previous 14 days, in terms of employment of the population over the past 14 days, out of 8 196 patients with COVID, COVID was most registered among the non-working population - 32.6% (2 670 people), workers of various LLP, IP, JSC - 22 % (1,806 people), pensioners - 22% (1,806 people), schoolchildren - 8.3% (676 cases) and among preschool children - 4.7% (385 cases). Students (the beginning of infection among students) were added to this category, accounting for more than 2% (190 cases - 2.3%). The total share of the listed categories of the population was 92%.
According to reliably established sites of infection: COVID infection through contacts in families remained at the level of 23-23.5%. The proportion of infections through contacts at the workplace has significantly decreased from 2.7% to 1.1%; in contacts with relatives, neighbors, friends, from 4.3% to 2.8%; as well as when traveling to the suburban area from 1.6% to 0.9%. At the same time, there has been a noticeable increase in infections with participation in family activities from 3.3% to 4.2%.
According to the probable sites of infection, which were indicated by the patients during the interviews: the infection at the trade objects increased from 27.5% to 30.6% (especially in the intra-quarter grocery stores by 4.6%); in the markets from 10.4% to 11.2%; in public transport from 16.2% to 18.7%. In catering facilities, the incidence rate increased slightly from 5.1 to 5.2%. At the same time, there is a 1.1% decrease in infections in non-grocery stores (the end of shopping holidays). Infection rate at other trade objects, banks, post offices, public service centers, saunas and others remains practically at the same level with a downward trend.
According to experts, these data indicate a weakening of observance of the mask regime, social distancing. In this regard, the akim of Almaty B. Sagintayev, urged not to forget and not to neglect the measures of sanitary and epidemiological safety. This is especially true for asymptomatic patients who continue to visit public places, as evidenced by the "Ashyk" application.
As B. Sagintayev emphasized, compliance with sanitary and epidemiological safety measures and mass vaccination will help stabilize the situation with COVID and, with an increase in the proportion of vaccinated people, gradually return to the previous rhythm of life in the megapolis.