For twelve consecutive weeks, Peru registered a decrease in cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19), reported the Intelligence and Data Analysis Unit (UIAD) Social Security Health (EsSalud). In this last week alone, fewer than 2,200 new infections were reported nationwide.
According to the head of the aforementioned unit, Dante Cersso, the number of infections has been decreasing week after week after the peak of the third wave, registered in the third week of January, in which more than 352,000 new weekly cases were reported. Furthermore, he added that Figures similar to those reported at the beginning of April 2020, the year in which the pandemic began, have been reached.
Regarding the number of deaths, he specified that in the last week less than 150 deaths from coronavirus were reported. “LAfter the peak of the third wave, where unfortunately a figure of more than 1,400 deaths per week was reached, a downward trend is observed for ten consecutive weeks”he pointed.
Likewise, Cersso highlighted that there has also been a significant decrease in the occupancy of hospital beds due to COVID-19. “On average, in the health subsystems in the last week some 1,144 hospitalized patients were recorded, it should be remembered that the maximum registered during this year (end of January) was 6,867, that is, it has decreased by 83% admissions for this disease.
Regarding the occupation of ICU beds, he indicated that in the last week some 379 patients admitted to intensive care were recorded, well below what was registered at the beginning of February of this year, which had 1,358 people in critical condition, which represents a reduction of 72%.
Vaccination must continue
Although the number of deaths and new cases has decreased in recent weeks, Cersso urged the population to continue vaccinating against the coronavirus. “We must not let our guard down as infections by COVID-19 are still recorded. That is why it is important that the population complies with having the complete vaccination scheme to be more protected against the coronavirus and its variants.”