The situation could be further aggravated by the risk of a new outbreak after the lack of control during the Ecuador vs. Brazil match.
Since the beginning of 2022, the increase in infections from COVID-19 it has maintained an upward trend, with some dates of decrease in cases. In the last week, for example, daily positive cases averaged around 9,000. And on no day were there less than 5,000.
In the last 24 hours, according to the most recent report from the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), 8,851 new infected people were added. In addition, 24 more deaths were registered due to the coronavirus.
To date, in 23 months of the pandemic, the global sum of infections reaches 725,936; while 24,556 is the number of confirmed deaths.
Ecuador faces a new wave of infections started at the end of last December driven by the crowds and gatherings at the Christmas and New Year parties; and the spread of the new omicron variant.
The public health system has an occupation of up to 85% of beds in intensive care units and up to 68% in hospitalization.
Belén Mora, an internist, explained that the situation is worrying because the pressure on health personnel is growing. In addition, everything could get even worse due to the alleged lack of control and non-compliance with biosecurity measures during the Ecuador vs. Brazil match for the qualifiers.
On January 28, 2022, the Minister of Health, Ximena Garzón, did not rule out a new outbreak in the next two weeks as a result of the poor care of citizens during the most recent public events.
Mora also warned about the danger that the Carnival holiday can represent, which will take place at the end of February and the beginning of March.
Currently, Quito continues to lead the coronavirus infections with 3,108 more in the last 24 hours to total 231,946, remaining the epicenter of the COVID-19 in Ecuador. After a decline during the second week of Januarythe positive cases in the capital rebounded again.
Vaccination advances amid infections
The ómicron strain, which was detected in South Africa, concentrates 80% of infections in the national territory, due to its high transmissibility characteristic, according to the MSP.
the rise of infections This contrasts with the progress of the National Vaccination Plan, which began in January 2021, which has so far managed to immunize a little more than 13.2 million people with the two doses of the vaccine.
This figure is equivalent to 82.46% of the target population aged five and older (16.1 million people), a situation that has allowed the country to remain socially and economically reactivated.
The government expects to achieve collective immunity of the population against the COVID-19, including the application of the third dose or reinforcement of the vaccine.
Excess deaths are concentrated in three provinces
According to the latest consolidated and verified data, corresponding to the second epidemiological week of 2022 (January 9 to 15), 553 have been registered. deaths in excess. That figure had not been seen since the week of July 11-17, 2021, when there were 525 more deaths than the 2018-2019 average (years without a pandemic).
The provinces with the highest excess mortality are Guayas, Manabí and Los Ríos.
With 340 deaths, Guayas registers 77% of deaths in excess relative to the average number of deaths in 2018 and 2019.
Los Ríos has an excess of deaths 64% with 47 deaths, a figure comparable to the week of July 4 to 10, 2021, in which 46 were registered deaths in excess (66%).
In Manabí, with 65 excess deaths (53%), a situation similar to that of June 13 to 19, 2021, when 56 excess deaths (54%) was recorded.
On this point, although part of the excess deaths are attributable to COVID-19, the increase in violence in the country also affects the statistics. (JS)
