The Ministry of Health (Minsa), in its first report in 2022, registered 39 positive cases of covid-19, the fourth lowest number of infections since the first case was detected in the country. Meanwhile, the Central American region remains alert to spikes in infections related to the circulation of the variant of concern, omicron, considered to have a greater spread than the other variables.
Nicaragua reached the peak of contagion of the second wave of cases during the last two weeks of September, registering a little more than a hundred cases daily. Since then, infections began to decrease gradually until reaching, according to the latest figure, five cases a day. However, this behavior contradicts the rest of the countries in Central America that at the end of this 2021, have alerted their populations to extreme measures due to outbreaks, presumably due to omicron.
On December 29, Guatemalan health authorities warned of a “significant growth” in positive cases of covid-19, which could be related to the presence of omicron – waiting to be confirmed – and the relaxation of prevention measures during the Christmas and New Years holidays. In Honduras, cases of coronavirus have also increased in recent days and although there is no official communication about the presence of omicron in the Catracho country, specialists say that it is very likely to circulate.
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In Panama and Costa Rica, the only two countries in the isthmus that have confirmed the presence of omicron, began in 2022 with an increase in positive cases. From December 26 to January 1, the Costa Rican country registered 3,385 new cases of covid-19, which represented an increase of 167.2% compared to the previous week, which was 1,267 new infections. On average, 483 cases were identified daily in the last week.
On the other hand, Panama is experiencing a fourth wave of infections generated by the variant, indicated a report from the EFE agency. Meanwhile, the Salvadoran health minister, Francisco Alabí, assured that “the sustained decrease from September to January is undeniable, with an average of 25 confirmed cases per day.”
According to official data, 17,924 people have been infected in Nicaragua and 218 died; a figure questioned by national and international specialists because the Minsa only recognizes one deceased weekly by covid-19, a fact that is statistically unlikely. Meanwhile, the Citizen Observatory accumulated 31,326 suspected coronavirus infections and 5,970 deaths, 3,098 occurred in 2021.
Nicaragua bets on vaccination
The Minister of Health, Martha Reyes, assured this Monday in an official media outlet that 2021 closed with 77% of the population two years and older vaccinated against covid-19, without specifying how much corresponds to first doses and how much. to people with a complete immunization schedule.
Vice President Rosario Murillo said that 77% is broken down into 80% of pregnant, postpartum and lactating women; 62% of girls and boys; 72% of minors between 12 and 17 years old; 74% of young people between 18 and 24 years of age and 85% of those over 30, without detailing the number of the population most at risk of developing the disease in a serious way and dying, who are those over 60 years of age.
The Government also announced that the Minsa would set up vaccination posts at airports and border posts, in addition to coordinating the immunization of workers with companies. However, he has not mentioned a single word about how they are prepared for the arrival of omicron and a third wave of contagion, which independent experts have warned, especially after the continuation of the agglomerations in December.
The Minsa only indicated that they hope to reach 100% of the population vaccinated against the pandemic in January 2022. However, these figures do not agree with the 43.4% immunization coverage against SARS-CoV-2, reported by the Organization Panamericana de la Salud (PAHO). The country has also not revealed how the booster doses are progressing, which epidemiologists have pointed to as an important step in the protection of the population against the new variant, whose virulence seems to be less than the other variables, without forgetting that it could generate congestion in the health system.
