COVID-19 in Peru: about 50% of ICU beds in EsSalud hospitals are occupied

The Social Health Insurance (EsSalud) reported that about 50% of ICU beds, destined for the care of critically ill patients with COVID-19, are occupied in the different hospitals of the institution nationwide.

The entity specified that currently 348 patients are in intensive care due to severe symptoms of the disease.

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REGIONS WITH THE GREATEST OCCUPATION OF ICU BEDS

As of December 26, the highest percentages of bed occupancy were registered in the interior of the country, mainly in the healthcare networks of Lambayeque (96.7%), La Libertad (68.2%), Puno (66.6%), Piura (61.6%) and Ancash (56%).

In Lima, the occupancy of ICU beds in Rebagliati Hospital is 78%, in Sabogal it is 65.6% and in Almenara it is 54.5%.

Regarding the occupation of beds destined for mild or moderate patients, the occupancy is 22.7%, that is, 1,488 of a total of 6,562 beds that EsSalud has in all its establishments.

Faced with this situation and in order to avoid a third wave of COVID-19 in the country, the president of EsSalud, Mario Carhuapoma Yance, asked the population to be vaccinated after the confirmation of cases of the Ómicron variant in the country. What’s more, warned that most patients who are in ICU only have one dose or did not complete their vaccine.

“The scenario that we are seeing these days is similar to what happened in January of this year, the month in which the second wave began. That is why it is important to adopt protection and self-care measures to prevent infections. It is also essential that the population receives the vaccine and completes its doses “, manifested.

THIRD WAVE COVID-19

At another time, the head of EsSalud said that his institution is prepared to face an eventual third wave and that it has been coordinating with the Minister of Health, Hernando Cevallos, and regional authorities to continue strengthening health services at the national level.

“We are adopting all measures to have a better health response. For example, in the Pan American Village we have a capacity of 2,000 beds, but we are increasing 1,000 beds that will be allocated to the care of COVID-19 patients “, he pointed.

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