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MINSK, 1 October (BelTA) – The new COVID variant, dubbed ‘Stratus’, does not cause a more severe disease, Deputy Healthcare Minister and Chief State Sanitary Physician of Belarus Svetlana Nechai told journalists, BelTA reports.
The Healthcare Ministry had previously confirmed the arrival of the ‘Stratus’ variant in Belarus. “As our citizens continue to travel and international visitors come to the country, stopping the virus’s spread is impossible. ‘Stratus’ is now present in Belarus,” Svetlana Nechai noted.
Due to its high transmissibility and low severity, this variant’s prevalence is increasing. The deputy minister noted it has firmly established its niche. Importantly, patient symptoms have not changed much, and as Svetlana Nechai confirmed, the ‘Stratus’ variant does not lead to a more serious illness.
The healthcare official confirmed that the disease has transitioned to a seasonal pattern, a finding robustly supported by statistical data. “Our weekly sentinel surveillance and national virus monitoring clearly show this trend,” she said, noting that a high percentage of current respiratory infections are caused by identifiable viruses.
Svetlana Nechai added that the most commonly reported symptoms are hoarseness and, in most cases, fever. Patients have not identified any other distinctive features.
Given the illness’s typically mild course, most patients receive outpatient care. Hospitalization is reserved for the small number of individuals with serious underlying conditions, where the viral infection exacerbates their symptoms.
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