The Ministry of Health reported 36,297 new cases of Covid-19 in Chile, with a positivity rate of 24.43% in the last 24 hours nationwide, with 136,073 exams, PCR and antigen tests. Meanwhile, it revealed that the daily positivity in the Metropolitan Region is 24.72%.
The Minister of Health, Enrique Paris, emphasized the high number of reported tests, insisting on the importance of testing when symptoms of Covid-19 appear. “We have seen how in the last month the demand for tests to diagnose the coronavirus has intensified and laboratories are working at full capacity to respond to said demand. And in the midst of this scenario, it is essential that people who present symptoms come to be tested and remain isolated until the result is obtained. In this way, we not only take care of ourselves, but also everyone around us. Along with strengthening preventive strategies in the presence of the Omicron variant, what each one of us can do individually in terms of responsibility and self-care is also very important.”
Along with the above, the authority indicated that “the new confirmed cases at the national level increased 53% and 200% for the comparison of seven and 14 days, respectively, so it is essential to maintain self-care measures, especially in the period of vacations that we are living. It is true that today we are in a different stage of the pandemic because we are more protected thanks to vaccination, but the more we reinforce the health protection measures, the less risk we have of getting sick.
Regarding the occupation of ICU beds, Minister Paris highlighted that “of the total of 1,870 ICU beds occupied at the national level, only 573 correspond to COVID-19 patients. Of these, 78.5% are supported by mechanical ventilation, that is, 450 patients”.
Of the 36,297 new cases, 30% are diagnosed by antigen test, 38% originate from Active Case Search (BAC) and 19% of those reported are asymptomatic. As for the Metropolitan Region, it presents 29% due to antigen, 31% due to BAC and 13% of the notified cases are asymptomatic.
According to sample collection, the regions with the highest positivity in the last week are Coquimbo, O’Higgins, Valparaíso and Antofagasta. Meanwhile, the Arica and Parinacota region has the highest current incidence rate per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by the Aysén, Magallanes, and Antofagasta regions.
According to today’s report, of the total number of new cases of Covid-19, 20,700 correspond to symptomatic people and 4,853 do not present symptoms. In addition, 10,744 Positive PCR tests were registered that were not notified.
The total number of people who have been diagnosed with the virus in the country reaches 2,335,034. Of this total, 131,295 patients are in the active stage. The recovered cases are 2,157,039.
Regarding deaths, according to the information provided by the DEIS, in the last 24 hours there were 63 deaths from causes associated with the disease. The total number of deceased amounts to 39,930 in the country.
To date, 573 people are hospitalized in Intensive Care Units, of which 450 are supported by mechanical ventilation. In relation to the Integrated Health Network, there are a total of 256 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 136,073 PCR tests and antigen tests were reported yesterday, reaching a total of 30,558,887 analyzed nationwide to date. The positivity for the last 24 hours at the country level is 24.43% and in the Metropolitan Region it is 24.72%.
Regarding the Sanitary Residences, we have 45 accommodation facilities, with a total of 4,305 beds. The actual occupation at the national level is 61%, leaving a total of 1,240 beds available for use.
