[Epidemiological situation regarding SARS-CoV-2 in the Havlíčkův Brod region from April 2020 to September 2022].

Abstract

Objective: In early March 2020, the first cases of the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 were confirmed in the Czech Republic. From April 2020 to the end of September 2022, more than 80,000 samples were examined in the microbiology laboratory of the Havlíčkův Brod Hospital. The article summarizes data obtained during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods: The catchment area of our laboratory included the towns of Havlíčkův Brod, Chotěboř, Světlá nad Sázavou, Ledeč nad Sázavou, Humpolec, and Pelhřimov. Viral RNA was isolated from the collected samples and detected by RT-PCR. Virus variants were determined by mutation detection using two methods (RT-PCR and melting curve analysis).

Results: Most of the examined persons belonged to the almost equally represented age groups 26-45 and 46-65 years. Two significant waves of the epidemic were recorded during the study period. The number of SARS-CoV-2-positive women and men was not statistically different, nor was there a difference in the number of hospitalized men and women; patients over 65 years of age predominated. Three variants of concern were detected: B1.1.7. (a), several sublineages of the variants B.1.617.2 and B.1.617.2.AY (δ, δ+), and several sublineages of the variant B.1.1.529.BA (ο). The variants differed in infectivity and virulence.

Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic significantly contributed to the development of the microbiology laboratory of the Havlíčkův Brod Hospital.