The increased activity of the virus continues to be recorded, and the trend of hospitalization is increasing.
The coronavirus continues to grow, with cases and hospitalizations increasing and 35 new deaths.
According to the weekly report of the epidemiological control of respiratory infections published by EODY for the period July 15 – July 21, 2024, the following applies:
SARS-CoV2 coronavirus – COVID-19 infection
✓ The increase in the activity of the virus continues to be noted, the trend of hospitalization is increasing. Vulnerable groups of the population (elderly and people with underlying diseases) are advised to strictly follow preventive measures against respiratory infections and to consult a doctor in time when symptoms are detected, in order to ensure timely treatment. At the same time, the general population is advised to limit contact with people belonging to susceptible groups in case of symptoms of respiratory infection.
✓ All tested samples showed an increase in positivity compared to the previous week.
✓ The number of new imports was 788 and shows an increasing trend. The average weekly number of new admissions in the previous four weeks was 551, and the number of admissions in the corresponding week in 2023 was 306.
In more detail, as reported by EODY, there was a 43% increase compared to the average weekly number of new admissions in the previous four weeks (average number of weekly admission weeks 25/2024-28/2024: 551).
✓ The number of new intubations was six. The average weekly number of new intubations in the previous four weeks was eight, and the number of intubations in the corresponding week in 2023 was seven.
✓ The number of patients with COVID-19 infection hospitalized with intubation is 17.
✓ The number of dead was 35. The average weekly number of deaths in the previous four weeks was 23, and the number of deaths in the corresponding week in 2023 was 17.
✓ There is an increasing trend in BA.2.86 carrying at least one of the F456L and R346T mutations, with a predominance in recent weeks. It is noted that this class of variant strains has not been associated with an increased risk of severe disease.
✓ Monitoring of viral load in municipal wastewater showed increased circulation of SARS-CoV-2 virus in six out of ten tested sites.
Influenza virus
✓ No positive samples for influenza were detected both in the community (PHC Sentinel surveillance network) and in hospitals (SARI surveillance network).
✓ There was no new serious case of ICU hospitalization or new death from laboratory-confirmed influenza.
✓ From week 40/2023 to week 29/2024, 149 people with laboratory-confirmed influenza were hospitalized in the ICU, and 71 deaths from laboratory-confirmed influenza were recorded.
✓ 1,064 influenza strains from week 40/2023 to week 29/2024 (obtained from community Sentinel samples, YELLOW surveillance samples, and hospital samples outside surveillance networks), of which 557 (52%) were type A and 507 . (48%) type B. From week 10 onwards, the spread of type B is observed both in the community (Sentinel PHC surveillance network) and in hospitals (SARI surveillance network). ✓ In total, 539 type A strains were subtyped in the two Influenza Reference Centers, 494 (92%) belonged to the A(H1)pdm09 subtype and 45 (8%) to the A(H3) subtype.