We recorded an interview with Professor Pedro Simas, a virologist and researcher at the Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM) of the University of Lisbon, participant in the COVID 2020 International Conference.
Professor Simas says that the threat of a second and third wave of the coronavirus does exist, but its severity depends directly on the consciousness and behaviour of people.
As he says, simple hygienic measures such as hand washing, social distance and wearing masks are equivalent to a full lockdown in the country. Pedro Simas adds that self-isolation should be a conscious choice of a person infected with COVID-19 who does not want to infect others.
The professor explains why the virus is dangerous for people with chronic diseases, while even elderly people with good immunity may not fear it.
He also describes why existing tests are are reliable and effective and why mutation of the virus is good. With each subsequent mutation, the virus becomes more infectious but less aggressive in its action on the body.
Pedro Simas hopes that the vaccine will be available in less than 12 months, as there are more than 60 projects developing it today, 6 of which have already moved on to clinical trials.
