It will be better: an infectious disease doctor spoke about QR codes introduced in the Kama region

Against the backdrop of an increase in the incidence of a new CORONAVIRUS infection, the Perm Territory has introduced a system of QR codes for attending sporting events, as well as theaters, philharmonic societies, cinemas and a circus.

Later, pools and fitness clubs were added to the theaters and the circus. They will only be allowed in based on the results of a PCR test or if they have a QR code. Maria Gevorgyan, Deputy HEAD of the Administration of the Governor of the Perm Territory, announced this. Public catering is still not included in the list of industries where these conditions must be met.

Andrey Pozdnyakov, an infectious disease specialist at Invitro, spoke about how effective this measure is and why QR codes are needed.

“The QR code contains information that a person is fully vaccinated or has been ill with covid-19.during the last 6 months, that is, has immune protection. He can visit public places where there is an increased risk of contracting this disease. Even if a person becomes infected, in most cases he will easily endure the disease, on an outpatient basis. This is the true purpose of going anywhere using QR codes: not that the vaccinated and recovered can go anywhere, but to prevent severe cases of the disease among those who do not have immune protection. The epidemiological situation will be tougher - QR codes will be allowed into shopping centers, even tougher - into public transport, large grocery stores. Restrictions are needed where there is a possibility of non-observance of social distance, ”the infectious disease DOCTOR explained.

There was also a question about the effectiveness of this measure. According to the Invitro infectious disease doctor, this measure is effective in the context of reducing severe cases of the disease, but a QR code is not the best solution to prevent morbidity in principle.

“The introduction of a pass regime is an effective measure, if you clearly understand what effect you need to achieve. If the goal is to prevent morbidity in principle, then the introduction of QR codes is not the best solution. In part, they will be effective for this purpose too, because those who are vaccinated and recovered are more resistant to the virus, have a lower risk of becoming infected and infecting others. But the main purpose of QR codes is to prevent severe cases of the disease by keeping people without immune protection from entering places with an increased risk of infection. No matter how outraged people are by this measure, the more such restrictions there are, the better for them,” Andrey Pozdnyakov said.

In the Perm Territory, the introduction of QR codes occurred at the very peak of the incidence. According to the expert, the incidence during the recovery period is growing rapidly, the volume of those in need of hospitalization is growing exponentially. There is a sharp shortage of prepared places, this is the most understandable criterion for the introduction of restrictions. True, therefore, it is not clear at what point these restrictions should be lifted.

“Formally, until the incidence rate decreases. At what indicators we can talk about a decrease, there is no common understanding, each region considers it in its own way. In fact, restrictions should be used until the non-immune stratum of the population becomes negligible (less than 15-10%),” added Andrey Pozdnyakov, infectious disease specialist at Invitro.

Earlier, RBC Perm reported that the non-profit organization Union of Fitness Industry Operators of the Sverdlovsk Region, together with Roman Valchuk, Assistant Commissioner for the Protection of Entrepreneurs' Rights in the Sverdlovsk Region, in an open letter addressed the Governor of the Perm Territory, Dmitry Makhonin, with a proposal to cancel QR codes for visiting fitness -clubs. The text of the appeal is at the disposal of RBC Perm.

In the letter, the organization notes the difficulties in using the QR code, as well as the impossibility of its verification by employees.