The Ministry of Health put cold cloths on the pandemic situation in Chile, after touching 30,000 infections and after warning that this figure could lead to hospital collapse, despite confirming the existence of 28,480 new cases of Covid-19, with a positivity of 19.82% in the last 24 hours nationwide, and with 130,969 exams, PCR and antigen tests.
Of the total number of new cases, 27% are diagnosed by antigen test, 37% originate from Active Case Search (BAC) and 18% of those reported are asymptomatic. Regarding the MRI, where the daily positivity is 20.69%, 25% are diagnosed by antigen, 32% by BAC and 13% of the reported cases are asymptomatic.
Currently 1,793 people are hospitalized in the ICU, of which only 437 correspond to Covid-19 patients. Of those, 74.14%, that is, 324 people, are supported by mechanical ventilation. In relation to the Integrated Health Network, there are a total of 331 critical beds available for the patient who requires it, regardless of the region where they are located.
Regarding the occupation of critical beds, the Minister of Health, Enrique Paris, stated that “on January 1, 2022, we reported that 512 people were hospitalized in the ICU due to COVID complications, in comparison today we only report 437, that is , 75 fewer people than 30 days ago. We can also see this decrease in COVID patients who were on invasive mechanical ventilation at the beginning of 2022. On January 1, 2022, we reported 438 people in this condition, while today, January 30, 2022, we reported 324, that is, 114. fewer people.”
“In fact, today we have 84% occupancy of beds in Intensive Care Units of the COVID-19 Integrated System. Of the total occupied capacity, COVID patients in the ICU represent only 24%”, detailed the Secretary of State.
The country’s highest health authority recalled that “international experience has shown that the Omicron variant is the one with the highest contagiousness compared to Gamma and Delta, however, this has not so far translated into a greater occupancy of ICU beds, as Ministry of Health we have worked to strengthen our Hospital Network by increasing the number of beds to ensure availability for our compatriots”.
“Although the occupancy of ICU beds has remained stable, we will be emphatic in insisting on the need for extreme self-care and compliance with protective health measures such as constant hand washing, the correct use of certified masks, maintaining the physical distance of at least one meter, constantly ventilate closed spaces, avoid places with crowds and prefer outdoor activities. These measures, together with vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, are essential for the control of the pandemic, it is for this reason that we strongly urge people who have not yet started their inoculation scheme or have not been vaccinated with their dose of reinforcement to do so”, remarked Minister Paris
The variation of new confirmed cases at the national level is 92% and 257% for the comparison of seven and fourteen days, respectively. Meanwhile, only one region decreases its new cases in the last seven days, but none does so compared to the last fourteen. The regions with the highest increase in cases are Los Lagos, Biobío, Ñuble and Maule.
According to sample collection, the regions with the highest positivity in the last week are Coquimbo, Tarapacá, Antofagasta and Magallanes. While the Arica and Parinacota region has the highest current incidence rate per 100 thousand inhabitants, followed by the Magallanes, Tarapacá and Antofagasta regions.
According to today’s report, of the total number of new cases of the virus, 15,681 correspond to symptomatic people and 3,409 do not present symptoms. In addition, 9,390 Positive PCR tests were registered that were not notified.
The total number of people who have been diagnosed with the disease in the country reaches 2,137,743. Of this total, 110,141 patients are in the active stage. The recovered cases are 1,981,334.
Regarding deaths, according to the information provided by the DEIS, in the last 24 hours there were 31 deaths from causes associated with the coronavirus. The total number of deceased amounts to 39,684 in the country.
To date, 437 people are hospitalized in Intensive Care Units, of which 324 are supported by mechanical ventilation. In relation to the Integrated Health Network, there are a total of 331 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 130,969 PCR tests and antigen tests were reported yesterday, reaching a total of 29,820,816 analyzed nationwide to date. The positivity for the last 24 hours at the country level is 19.82% and in the Metropolitan Region it is 20.69%.
Regarding the Sanitary Residences, we have 47 accommodation facilities, with a total of 4,652 beds. The actual occupancy at the national level is 62%, leaving a total of 1,358 beds available for use.
