The Minister of Health, Ximena Garzón, admits that the omicron breaks the schemes provided for community immunity.
Ecuador is going through critical days due to the increase in cases of COVID-19. The latest data from the Ministry of Health (MSP) record a significant increase in these days of January.
The Minister of Health, Ximena Garzón, announced this Thursday morning in Guayaquil that there are 19,807 patients with respiratory symptoms. Of these, 15,065 cases have tested positive in the first week of January.
As for this week, until Wednesday the 12th, 14,445 new infections had been reported, which exceed the reports for week 25. “Possibly we are going to end the week with more than 20,000 new cases,” said Garzón.
The population segment in which more cases have been detected is between 20 and 49 years old, according to the MSP. This week, more than 1,300 cases have been reported in that group.
95% of users would have presented documentation of anti-COVID-19 vaccination when using inter and intraprovincial transport
The minister maintained that despite the increase in cases, mortality is not higher than the most difficult days of the pandemic.
The fatality rate for COVID-19 is 1.2 per 1,000 cases in Guayaquil. This is because part of the population is vaccinated, according to the MSP.
She said that the vaccine has been important to avoid higher mortality. Therefore, he urged to vaccinate young populations.
Speed of contagion of the omicron variant generates a high number of COVID-19 cases, nationwide, according to the Government
The minister indicated that the viral positivity in antigen tests is 52%, while the positivity of cases in the PCR test is 47%, that is, out of every 100 swabs, 47 come out positive.
Garzón admitted that the appearance of the ómicron variant breaks the schemes foreseen for community immunity.
He pointed out that a new analysis is being carried out to establish a percentage of when community immunity could be obtained.
According to data from the MSP, 81% of the population of Ecuador already has both doses. 87% have only one. 1.6 million booster doses have already been placed.
Occupation in hospitals
Of the 1,474 beds assigned to COVID-19 patients nationwide, 764 are occupied. While of the 97 intermediate care beds, 48 are occupied.
At the level of the 489 beds destined for intensive care units (ICU), 340 are already full, according to data from the MSP.
Garzón explained that there is a plan for the expansion of beds as they are required.
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