Huge increase of viral load in the wastewater of Rethymno, Heraklion and Chania Everything you want to ask, read or write about Sfakia, southwest Crete, or Crete island in general.

[Erno]

Huge increase of viral load in the wastewater of Rethymno, Heraklion and Chania - 3 March, 2021

Danger signal from the analyzes in the last week of February

The results of the laboratory tests of the National Network of Sewage Epidemiology for the epidemiological surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in urban wastewater for the period from 22 to 28 February 2021 were announced by EODY.

The samples come from the Attica Region and the cities of Thessaloniki, Larissa, Volos, Heraklion, Chania, Rethymnon, Agios Nikolaos and Patras. The samples are taken from the entrances of the respective Sewage Treatment Plants and correspond to the population served by them.

The results show a huge increase in the viral load with Rethymno as the "champion", while Heraklion and Chania are in the first places, with the numbers "showing" what is expected to follow in terms of confirmed cases.

Analytically the percentage change in the average weekly concentration of the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in the urban wastewater per 100,000 inhabitants in the week 22-28 February 2021 compared to the week 15-21 February 2021.

Rethymno + 337%
Volos + 218%
Heraklion + 199%
Chania + 154%
Larissa + 66%
Patras + 15%
Thessaloniki + 10%
Agios Nikolaos + 2%
Attica - 3%

Conclusions:

In the week of 22-28 February 2021 there are increasing trends in relation to the week of 15-21 February 2021 in the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 in the urban wastewater of most areas controlled by the National Wastewater Epidemiology Network of EODY except the Attica Region.

These increasing trends range from + 66% in Larissa to + 337% in Rethymno, Crete. The concentration of viral load in the wastewater of Agios Nikolaos, Crete (+ 2%) remains virtually constant. The increases observed in Thessaloniki (+ 10%) and Patras (+ 15%), which fall within the limits of laboratory uncertainty, are also considered marginal.

The Attica Region shows a stabilization of the concentration of the virus in the wastewater (-3%) for the corresponding period, with the viral load in them remaining consistently high.

Note1. : The above trends have been calculated based on viral load values, normalized to the equivalent population of the areas. The equivalent population is calculated based on the pollutant load that results in the respective wastewater treatment plant in 24 hours and standard values ​​of pollutant load per person per day.

Note 2: Changes in the order of +/- 30% are close to the limits of laboratory uncertainty.

From: https://flashnews.gr/post/453911/korwno ... ash-xaniwn

[Erno]

The dominance of the British mutation in Crete is almost complete - 6 March, 2021

The fight against the coronavirus in the country is evolving in a struggle of resistance against mutations and the fatigue of the citizens from the restrictive measures, as reflected in the epidemiological data of the week that were presented on Friday during the regular information about the course of the pandemic.

Despite the strict framework in Attica and many other areas, scientists warn that the strong wave that is underway in the last 24 hours will continue next week, "pointing" to de-escalation towards the end of March.

From what the professor of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and member of the Committee of Experts, Vana Papaevangelou, said, the dominance of the British mutation now emerges, with her talking about a "struggle that becomes even more unequal".

The prevalence of this variant of the virus now concerns 60% -70% of new cases in the whole country and up to 90% in Attica and Crete .

Nikos Tzanakis, Professor of Pulmonology at the University of Crete, also spoke on a similar wavelength, speaking on Friday night on SKAI.

"I firmly believe that mutations have prevailed throughout the country and that is why the cases are not decreasing. In Crete they have absolutely prevailed. This is why this wave does not subside. "It is resilient," he said, warning of a further increase in cases next week .

"It is not excluded that we will see 2,800-3,000 cases one day. This will continue until about March 15-18 and around March 20-25 we will see the numbers escalate downwards, too late ".

Endless trial in hospitals

The above foreshadow for a particularly difficult situation regarding the pressure on the Health System, which has been moving to its limits for days now, with the indications that they refer to a duration test in March as well.

Ms. Papaevangelou noted that at the moment, over 3,200 people are being treated for coronavirus in the country and in the last week, 330 patients have been admitted daily. The Deputy Minister of Health, Vassilis Kontozamanis, noted that in Attica alone the tickets to the hospitals are about 200 per day.

The fullness of ICU covid in Attica reaches 87%, although the number of beds increased as he said, and he added that only last week 196 patients were intubated. However, she noted that the death toll in relation to cases remains low in our country.

She predicted that the health system will be under pressure in the coming weeks, as she said that it is possible that next week, at least 200 people will need ICU hospitalization.

Doubling cases in 15 days

Regarding the epidemiological data of the last days, the professor spoke about doubling the burden in the last 15 days, with the active cases reaching 16,500.

The 20-65 age group is at the top of new cases, while those over 75 are declining - and that, he said, is due to vaccination.

The situation in Attica is also aggravated, with a large dispersion in all neighborhoods, while we had a 37% increase in Thessaloniki, where the active cases are estimated at 2,000.

In the "deep red" Fokida and Anogia

For his part, the inclusion of Fokida and Anogia in Crete in the "deep red" of the epidemiological map was announced by the Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Nikos Hardalias, with effect from 6 am on Saturday.

Against the background of the new bans regarding sms, Mr. Hardalias said that "we must be more sparing in our travels. "Stay home and be more careful to limit the spread of the virus from region to region and from group to group."

From: https://flashnews.gr/post/454194/sxedon ... sthn-krhth