MOSCOW, 9 Jan. Coronavirus remains an extremely dangerous disease that can lead to death, Chinese virologist Zhang Wenhong told the Global Times. The doctor criticized the view that the rapidly spreading omicron strain in the world is essentially a «severe cold.» Wenhong stressed that the coronavirus is still dangerous, and the new variety poses a particular threat to immunocompromised people. 
strain In addition, he spoke out against the lifting of restrictions on the movement of people between countries. This, he said, requires herd immunity, which can be achieved through vaccination. The Omicron strain was discovered in Botswana and South Africa at the end of November. It contains dozens of mutations in the S-protein, which the pathogen needs to infect cells. According to the researchers, many of the new changes in the SARS-CoV-2 genome indicate a high transmissibility of this variant and resistance to protective antibodies of those who have been ill and vaccinated. It is believed that this variant originally developed in an immunocompromised person, such as one infected with HIV. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been almost 299 million cases of coronavirus infection worldwide. About 5.5 million patients could not be saved. Most infected are in the USA, India, Brazil and the UK. 
30 November 2021, 11:15
