Many unvaccinated children testing positive

Many unvaccinated children testing positive
Most of the recent Covid cases are registered in the Klaksvík region
 
22.10.2021 - 19:24

A large portion of the recent Covid cases is found among unvaccinated children, who infect other children and then the virus spreads to their families.

So says chief medical officer Lars Fodgaard Møller in the wake of today’s announcement of a joint record high 38 new Covid cases.

“The children infect unvaccinated family members, but there have also been instances of vaccinated people catching the virus,” he says.

“Some of these children are 12 years or older and thus eligible for vaccines, and some are younger than 12.”

 >> SEE ALSO People are “fed up” with Covid

The Klaksvík region has been hardest hit in recent days, but there have also been some cases in Eysturoy and Tórshavn.

“Yesterday, we had 4.3 positive outcomes per 100 tests, which is a very high figure,” says Møller.

“In comparison, Denmark had a figure of 1.9 yesterday, which is also relatively high. Ideally, we should be below 1, or no higher than 1.5.”

Limited testing capacity

This, he says, is a strong indication that not enough people are getting tested. Yesterday saw a slight reduction in testing capacity in some regions, but this capacity is now back on track, especially in Tórshavn.

“Due to this reduced testing capacity, it is likely that there are people who have been infected without knowing it.”

Møller urges anyone who has been exposed to infection or feels the slightest symptoms to book a testing appointment as soon as possible and remain at home until receiving a negative test result.

Higher daily figures “not unlikely”

“It would be unfair to say that the Covid situation is entirely under control right now. I hope we will have a clearer overview of the situation later tonight, but right now we are very busy.”

The chief medical officer says we should not be surprised to see an increase in daily Covid cases, especially considering the situation in the countries around us.

“The good news for us here in the Faroes is that we have had very few hospitalisations compared to e.g. the UK, Eastern Europe and Denmark.”

Flu season ahead

The upcoming flu season may also lead to an increase in daily Covid cases.

So, does the combination of a flu season and high daily Covid figures give rise to new covid restrictions?

“The key recommendation remains the same: get your Covid vaccine. And if you are in a risk group and haven’t been vaccinated against the flu, it would be a good idea to get that one too.”

He believes that by limiting some of the social activities of the unvaccinated children, it should be possible to keep the number of daily cases down.

“I can’t say exactly how we should reduce these activities. In general, as long as our hospital system isn’t put under too much pressure, we should be okay. But if we see a sudden increase in hospitalisations, it would make sense to request some political intervention.”

 

For further information about Covid-19 in the Faroes, visit corona.fo.

Hear an interview in Faroese with the chief medical officer here.

Translated by prosa.fo.

More Faroese News in English.

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