Omicron's ability to survive in vitro has been enhanced? How to prevent the virus from spreading from animals to humans?

The latest data from the World Health Organization shows that as of the 14th, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide has exceeded 500 million, and the number of deaths has exceeded 6.19 million. The WHO stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic is still an international public health emergency and recommends that all countries be prepared to respond at any time.

On April 17, volunteers delivered ordered items to residents in a residential area in Xidu Street, Fengxian District, Shanghai. Xinhua News Agency (Photo by Yu Wei)

Recently, many places have found that confirmed cases have come into contact with positive items, especially non-cold chain items, and many people have begun to worry:

Does Omicron have an enhanced ability to survive outside the body? What is the probability of Omicron being transmitted from animals to humans?

In this regard, at a press conference of the State Council's Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism held a few days ago, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, introduced that, generally speaking, respiratory infectious diseases are mainly transmitted through close-range droplets, and can also be transmitted through hand contact with contaminated surfaces. If the hands are not disinfected or washed, they touch the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, eyes, etc., which can easily cause infection.

Is Omicron surviving longer on surfaces?

Wu Zunyou said that how long the new coronavirus survives on the surface of objects depends on the amount of contamination, as well as the temperature, humidity, light and ultraviolet rays in the environment. Generally speaking, the risk of human infection caused by surface contamination of objects is relatively small, but if we come into contact with it repeatedly without paying attention to hand hygiene and personal protection, the risk will increase significantly.

For this reason, we conduct regular testing on personnel engaged in foreign-related cold chain and foreign-related freight, so as to detect infected people in a timely manner.

A medical staff member of the Lingang Fangcang Hospital walks past the nurse station on April 16. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Youzong

In daily life, how should the general public protect themselves to avoid the spread of Omicron from objects to humans?

In daily life, express parcels should be disinfected before opening. At this time, the risk will be greatly reduced. You must pay attention to hand hygiene and cleanliness at ordinary times. Insisting on hand hygiene can reduce the risk of infection with the new coronavirus from contaminated surfaces.

How can we effectively protect ourselves against the current reality that new virus mutations and recombination are still occurring?

Wu Zunyou introduced that the mutation of the new coronavirus has been continuing, whether the virus becomes a new strain or two viruses recombine into a new virus mutation in the body, no matter how it changes, we can respond to the capricious virus mutation phenomenon with constancy and reduce the risk of personal infection.

What does “unchanged” include?

For individuals, the main thing is to implement protective measures, including wearing masks, hand hygiene, maintaining social distance, and actively getting vaccinated against the new coronavirus.

Participate in large-scale nucleic acid testing,

What should I pay attention to?

Before nucleic acid testing

It is recommended not to eat within two hours, and not to drink water, alcohol, or chew gum 30 minutes in advance to avoid vomiting, nausea, and other symptoms that may occur during the sampling process.

Wear a mask, take personal protection measures and maintain social distance.

Follow the arrangements of the on-site staff, queue up in an orderly manner, and do not chat with others.

During the test

Avoid touching items on the testing table and do not place personal items such as mobile phones, ID cards, keys, etc. on the table.

Whether it is a nasal swab or an oropharyngeal swab, you must cooperate with the medical staff's requirements and take appropriate actions to avoid cross infection.

After nucleic acid testing

Put on a mask and leave immediately, do not stay at the sampling point for too long.

Do not discard waste at the sampling point. After sampling, continue to take personal protection and maintain good hand hygiene.

Orderly queue without crowding

Leave after finishing your work and do not gather together

Don't relax your personal protection

Victory comes from unity

Comprehensive sources: Xinhuanet, National Health Commission official website, Healthy China, etc.