The expected behavior of the coronavirus in the midst of the pandemic and the accelerated increase in cases in the last month, highlight the measures and controls that must be taken regarding the care and prevention of the virus in the country.
(Read: What is the cost – effectiveness of the Vaccination Plan against covid).
Portfolio, for the middle of May, made a report on the progress of the coronavirus, which at the time was rregistered at 4,480 after lifting the restriction of the use of face masks in both outdoor and closed spaces, on May 1. However today the situation is different.
With data from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, with a date cut from June 10 to 16, in Colombia there have been reported 13,810 new cases, 9,330 more than the previous month. Amid the increase in cases, 128,803 tests have been processed, of which 79,736 correspond to antigens and 49,067 to PCR.
Regarding the number of deaths in the month, the Ministry reports 24 people, of which 21 are elderly, 2 between 40 and 44 years old and one was 16 years old. The predominant comorbidities were cardiovascular disease, hypertension, kidney disease and diabetes.
Currently, the country has a cumulative of 139,918 deaths in the course of the pandemic which, according to the National Institute of Health (INS), 39.2% of the deaths are female and 60.77% of the male sex.
Colombia currently has 11,508 active cases, of which 7,863 were identified as symptomatic cases and 6,727 asymptomatic. In addition, 97.2% of these are in a mild state, andl 2.5% in moderate condition and 0.2% in serious condition, according to the INS.
Within the framework of the Unified Command Post #135, the director of Promotion and Prevention, Gerson Bermont, stated that “according to epidemiological surveillance, we would be at the beginning of a fifth peak of covid-19, which could be consolidated in the next weeks”. Likewise, the director indicated that the people who are currently entering the ICU services are those who have not received doses of the vaccine, have not completed the schemes or have not come for the booster dose.
For his part, the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, affirmed that the pandemic is not over, therefore “we cannot lower our guard or think that covid-19 is over, there is denial about the virus and the disease continues. In recent weeks we have seen an increase in positivity that is also worrying and could lead us to growth situations that can be evidenced in hospitalization and deaths, “he assured.
Likewise, the Group of Experts and the Vaccine Committee of the Ministry recommended the application of the fourth dose of the vaccine against covid-19, to the population from 12 to 49 years old, but with medical recommendation. In the same way, he suggested continuing with the application of the third dose at the national level, to avoid the seriousness of the infections. According to the Ministry, the departments and districts with the highest number of infections are: Bogotá with 6,072 cases, followed by Antioquia with 2,278, Barranquilla in third place with 1,505 infections, Valle with 1,068 cases and Santander in fifth place. with 628.
Likewise, Cundinamarca (350), Córdoba (259), Cartagena (223), Cesar (207) and Atlántico (151). Among the least affected are Vichada with 1 case, as well as Guaviare, Vaupés, Caquetá and Amazonas, presenting each of 2 cases. For its part, Chocó reported 3 cases, Putumayo 4 and San Andres 5.
pediatric ICU
Colombia is currently going through a strong respiratory peak that has increased the occupancy of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU). For his part, John Delgado, Director of Service Provision and Primary Care, explained the panorama of the availability of Unit beds of Intensive Care, both adult and pediatric, stating that currently there are 10,557 ICU beds enabled in the countryof which 47% is available.
(Also: Colombia and the EU conduct dialogue on illicit drugs).
In addition, he pointed out that “the availability of pediatric ICU is 27% nationwide, due to non-covid cases. Casanare, Quindío, Sucre and Boyacá are the departments that reached the top of the pediatric ICU occupation and have zero availability”, for the beginning of June.
DIANA K. RODRIGUEZ TRIANA
