The Ministry of Health confirmed 34,328 new cases of Covid-19 in Chile, with a positivity rate of 23.09% in the last 24 hours nationwide, with 134,185 exams, PCR and antigen tests. The daily positivity in the Metropolitan Region, meanwhile, is 22.40%. Worrying figures for the health authority.
The variation of new confirmed cases at the national level was 42% and 194% for the comparison of seven and 14 days, respectively. Meanwhile, two regions have decreased their new cases in the last seven days and one has done so in the last two weeks.
The Minister of Health, Enrique Paris, pointed out that “the increase in new cases reported in the country is a matter of concern and that keeps us constantly monitoring and evaluating strategies to deal with the pandemic. In recent weeks, the occupation of beds in the Healthcare Network has increased, a situation for which we have prepared and anticipated with the aim that each person, wherever they are, can access a bed in the event that requires it”.
In this sense, the authority highlighted that the strategy is to increase the number of beds in stages, according to the different needs that are observed with the advance of the Omicron variant. “Not only do we intend to grow in ICU beds, but also in ICU and Intermediate beds. In addition, we have strengthened home hospitalization for less complex patients, the reactivation of the Integrated Emergency Network and the separation of respiratory care in Hospital Emergencies, among other measures. We are anticipating and working to strengthen the hospital network, but we want to insist that prevention is fundamental. That is why we reiterate the importance of respecting sanitary measures, strengthening self-care and getting closer to receiving your booster dose as appropriate.
Minister Paris also added that “the Integrated Public-Private Network has 2,115 ICU beds available, of which 1,849 are occupied, which represents 87% nationwide. Of these more than 1,800 beds, 601 correspond to COVID-19 patients, representing 33% of the total hospitalized.
Of the 34,328 new cases, 30% are diagnosed by antigen test, 40% originate from Active Case Search (BAC) and 20% of those reported are asymptomatic. As for the Metropolitan Region, it presents 29% due to antigen, 32% due to BAC and 14% of the notified cases are asymptomatic.
According to sample collection, the regions with the highest positivity in the last week are Coquimbo, O’Higgins, Valparaíso and Antofagasta. Meanwhile, the Aysén region has the highest current incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by the Magallanes, Arica and Parinacota, and Antofagasta regions.
According to today’s report, of the 34,328 new cases of Covid-19, 19,224 correspond to symptomatic people and 4,697 have no symptoms. In addition, 10,407 Positive PCR tests were registered that were not notified.
The total number of people who have been diagnosed with the virus in the country reaches 2,371,833. Of this total, 140,307 patients are in the active stage. The recovered cases are 2,184,728.
Regarding deaths, according to the information provided by the DEIS, in the last 24 hours there were 57 deaths from causes associated with the coronavirus. The total number of deaths amounts to 39,987 in the country.
To date, 601 people are hospitalized in Intensive Care Units, of which 476 are supported by mechanical ventilation. In relation to the Integrated Health Network, there are a total of 266 critical beds available for the patient who requires it, regardless of the region where they are located.
Regarding the Laboratory Network and diagnostic capacity, the results of 134,185 PCR tests and antigen tests were reported yesterday, reaching a total of 30,693,072 analyzed nationwide to date. The positivity for the last 24 hours at the country level is 23.09% and in the Metropolitan Region it is 22.40%.
Regarding the Sanitary Residences, we have 45 accommodation facilities, with a total of 4,305 beds. The actual occupation at the national level is 65%, leaving a total of 1,137 beds available for use.
