Facts: Covid-19 right now
In the last two months, the spread of covid-19 has increased, unlike previous pandemic summers. The reason is the more contagious virus variant BA.5, which is better at rounding off the immune system of both vaccinated and previously infected individuals.
During week 30, 5,261 new confirmed cases of covid-19 were reported in Sweden. It is at the same level as the previous week, but whether the spread of infection has started to decrease or not is too early to say.
Source: Public Health Agency
The holidays are over and for many a fond reunion with colleagues awaits. And a less fond reunion of their virus, which unfortunately often comes with the deal. Because when the workplaces are filled again with people who were in different places during the summer, “a brew” of different infectious agents is created that we share with each other in coffee rooms and at meetings, according to Leif Dotevall, deputy infectious disease doctor in the Västra Götaland region.
1) Which infections usually circulate when we return from the holidays?
— We almost always see an increase in common cold viruses of many different kinds. But also from gastro-intestinal viruses such as calicivirus (winter vomiting sickness), as well as intestinal infections that you come home with when you have been abroad, such as salmonella and campylobacter. The latter, on the other hand, have lower infectiousness, says Leif Dotevall.
At the same time, covid-19 has been on the rise over the past two months, and if you have cold symptoms, there is a considerable risk that it is due to the new coronavirus.
2) What should we think about to avoid catching a cold or something else after the holiday?
The most important thing is to have zero tolerance in the workplace against “sickness” – that employees come to work with a cold or other symptoms, says Leif Dotevall.
— You really shouldn’t go to work when you have a cold. We quickly forget what we learned during the pandemic about how we should behave, but it is about ordinary human concern, he says.
— Then you must always have careful hand hygiene. It works against many infections, although covid in particular is probably not spread as much via the hands as previously thought. When it comes to covid, the most important thing is not to expose others to your cough or sneeze. These are simple rules, but they can be difficult to apply when you have many things to do around you.
When it comes to covid-19, it is still important to follow the recommendations regarding vaccinations, emphasizes Leif Dotevall. Still, one in three adults has not taken the third shot.
— The vaccines protect well against serious disease, but the protection decreases after 4–5 months and it is important to make sure that you are as protected as possible.
3) How should we behave in the cafeteria and on public transport? Is it worth trying to keep your distance?
The time when we talked about keeping our distance is over, notes Leif Dotevall.
— It doesn’t work in practice because many return to normal. It’s probably okay as long as nothing new appears – we need to be prepared to quickly reset if a new virus variant appears. For example, have hybrid meetings where you can participate digitally if you are about to get sniffy.
4) Should I stay at home at the slightest cold symptom, or what should I think?
Yes, by and large, believes Leif Dotevall.
— I think that from now on we need to rethink in general. In the past, you have had a tendency to struggle and go to work even if you are smelly or coughy. But what applies now is what we learned from covid: if we have a cough or a runny nose, we should stay at home. I think this is something you need to talk about in all workplaces now.
That approach mainly applies to adults. For children who are often fussy, the same applies as before the pandemic, to look after the general condition and the best interests of the child first and foremost, according to Leif Dotevall.
Even Sara Byfors, head of department at the Public Health Agency, emphasizes that those who are sick should stay at home – but that we don’t have to have quite the same strict behavior as during the pandemic.
— Back then you might have stayed home if you woke up with a slight headache, now you might think that it might be because you have stiff shoulders and go to work anyway, and that’s completely reasonable.