Infectologist Ludmila Vīksna: I Have Found no Evidence for a Second Global Wave of COVID-19

The second wave of COVID-19 projected to take place in the autumn can be called into question taking into account what is currently known about the virus, Professor Ludmila Vīksna, Head of the Department of Infectology at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU), says to the LETA news agency.

‘There is not enough convincing evidence,’ explains the professor, adding that she has found no explanation for a second global wave of COVID-19. According to her, ‘it would be more likely if the virus were to re-enter a dense environment.’ Regarding Latvia, however, aspects such as population density, discipline and social attitude towards social distancing measures have to be taken into consideration.

In addition, the infectologist does not have enough information to prove that COVID-19 might mutate so much that it could reappear, as is the case with the influenza virus. Among other observations, Ludmila Vīksna points out that influenza does not appear all over the world simultaneously as opposed to what the current situation with COVID-19 is.

Yet, regardless of whether or not there will be a second wave, the professor confirmed that people will have to learn how to coexist with COVID-19 in the long term.

When asked about the proportion of society that might already have fallen ill with COVID-19 and developed antibodies, the professor explains that rough estimates indicate that it could be up to 10 % of the Latvian population. This result is obtained based on the total number of infected people who tested positive for COVID-19.

It has already been reported that multiple experts have forecast a second wave of COVID-19 to take place in Latvia this autumn, coinciding with the beginning of the flu season.

The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reports that 1 patient has died of COVID-19 in the last day, while 9 people have been confirmed to be infected. The deceased patient was aged between 55 and 60 and was infected by a family member. 1,870 COVID-19 tests have been carried out in the last day with a total of 94,621 tests carried out total: 1,025 people have contracted the virus, 694 have recovered, and 22 have died so far.

Data from the National Health Service show that 1 COVID-19 patient has been placed in the hospital within the last 24 hours, and a total of 24 patients are currently being treated in hospitals – 22 of them have moderate symptoms, while 2 patients are in a serious condition. A total of 134 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from the hospital so far.

Source: LETA