A meeting on the spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus was held at the NSDC Staff

Chaired by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov, a meeting to discuss the spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in the world and related threats was held at the NSDC Staff.

At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Danilov noted that given the potential threat of another outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic caused by the Delta strain, public authorities should take all necessary measures to protect the health of citizens and the readiness of the medical system to function effectively.

The participants of the meeting discussed the danger of the spread of the new Delta strain of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Ukraine and the probable ways of its entry into the territory of Ukraine. These may include countries such as India, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and the Russian Federation, as well as Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, where this strain is circulating. In total, according to experts, currently, the spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has been recorded in 92 countries.

According to the participants of the meeting, the current situation necessitates the introduction of additional effective anti-epidemic measures to prevent the spread of the new Delta strain of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Ukraine, the acceleration of vaccination, and ensuring its availability, especially for segments of the population vulnerable to COVID-19 – people aged 60+, intensification of outreach activities among the population on the need for personal protective equipment, the importance and safety of immune prevention.

Also, according to experts, it is important to early detect the Delta strain, enhance the quality of contact tracking, strengthen the laboratory component to detect the Delta strain of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and other mutations of this virus.

In addition, according to the participants of the meeting, it is necessary to improve domestic treatment protocols in line with current requirements and strengthen the readiness of health care facilities to provide medical care to patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in case of mass morbidity. It is also important to maximize the immunization of the staff of health care facilities that provide care to such patients.

Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Public Health, Medical Assistance and Medical Insurance Mykhailo Radutskyi, Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Lyashko, representatives of the National Health Service of Ukraine, Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, leading domestic scientists, infectious disease specialists, and epidemiologists, specialists of the Staff of NSDC of Ukraine.