Now the country registers a viral positivity of 18% with PCR tests (polymerase chain reaction) and 30% of antigens at the national level.
In Ecuador there is currently a “peak” of positive cases of COVID-19, one of the highest since the beginning of the first phase of the pandemic, the minister of the sector, Ximena Garzón, assured this morning.
“We in the previous weeks We had talked about a noticeable increase in cases, but now we are in an outbreak, definitely in most of the country’s provinces there are many cases of COVID-19″ Garzón said in a media discussion.
The increase in those infected is confirmed by the analysis of the viral positivity of PCR tests (polymerase chain reaction) and of antigens, which in these days register an excess demand, explained the minister.
Currently, out of every one hundred PCR tests that are taken, at the moment 18% are positive (polymerase chain reaction) and in the same way 30% of antigens.
“We had the pandemic under control for a few months (less than 5% viral positivity), even when the delta variant existed in our country,” Garzón explained, based on the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC , in English) from the United States.
Currently, the increase is evident in certain provinces such as Guayas, Manabí and Pichincha, after the crowds and social gatherings registered during the end of the year festivities.
Last Monday, in a session of the national Emergency Operations Committee (COE), the Health authorities announced that the country is showing an increase in cases in several provinces. That day, the minister indicated that the COE was informed that there is a weekly increase of 9,676 cases, especially in the provinces of Guayas, Pichincha, Manabí, Pastaza, and Tungurahua.
Most of those infected recently have mild or moderate symptoms, added the Health official, in the meeting with the media, this Tuesday 4. “Despite the fact that we have many cases, almost at the same level as at the beginning of the pandemic two years ago, since the number of deceased people is minimal compared to the previous epidemiological weeks, this is the effect of vaccines, “he said.
As of last December, the month in which the omicron variant was also detected, the increase in cases was evidenced.
To date with this lineage of the virus, known for its high level of transmissibility, there are 68 cases scientifically corroborated, according to data from the Ministry of the branch.
Currently, hospital occupancy now has different combinations ranging from 0% to 100%. This last percentage is already evident in zonal coordinates 3 and 4 (made up of the provinces of Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Pastaza and Tungurahua, and Manabí and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, respectively).
In the case of zone 8, made up of Guayaquil, Durán and Samborondón, 86% occupancy (intensive care and hospitalization) is registered in the public network and 53% in the complementary network.
In the coming days, authorities expect the increase in cases to continue and that hospitalization and intensive care beds may be fullGarzón said, and assured that if necessary, more spaces will be enabled in the comprehensive public health network.
Garzón reiterated the request to the public to go to the vaccination points to prevent serious pictures of the disease.
Growth of contagion curve
On December 3, 2021, 528,590 COVID-19 cases confirmed in the country, while this January 3, 2022 they are already counted 553,201 cases, that is, there was an increase of 24,611 cases in the span of one month. (I)
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