Is Ecuador on the path to control the COVID-19 pandemic?

Although to date there is no scientific evidence that the new subvariant of the omicron, BA.2, is more lethal, it does have various mutations that allow it to enter cells very quickly and easily. This means that the speed of contagion of the coronavirus is greater.

This was explained by Fernando Espinoza Fuentes, general director of the research center of the Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo (UEES). With these characteristics, he added, BA.2 can infect those who were already infected with the omicron between last December and January and even affect people who have had the two vaccines plus the booster.

Guayaquileños more relaxed without restrictive measures; Doctors believe relaxation could cause increase in COVID-19 cases

“Many even, as we have already seen, can be asymptomatic: have the disease and not realize it, if I am already vaccinated, or we have a flu for two or three days,” he said during an interview with radio Sucre, the previous Thursday.

The next day, on Friday, March 18, the country said goodbye to mobility and capacity restrictions within a new scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic in which, according to the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, Ecuador is ready to “take a leap into the future, forward”.

The Minister of Health, Ximena Garzón, supported this, among other things, with the positivity rate in virus detection tests, which is currently 9%, when in January of this year the figure was 62%.

“In other words, we are on the way to controlling the pandemic in our country. When we drop below five (percent) we will be able to say that Ecuador has the pandemic under control. We know that COVID is here to stay, but it is important to keep it under control,” said the official in Guayaquil, where the national Emergency Operations Committee (COE) announced the new ruling resolutions.

The presentation of the vaccination card with a complete schedule (two doses or one dose, as appropriate) is maintained for entry to places of attention to the public for everyone over 12 years of age.

The mandatory presentation of the certificate applies exclusively to non-essential activities. Those dedicated to health, education, work and public services are exempt. The use of a mask, hand hygiene, adequate ventilation and social distancing remains in force.

Garzón acknowledged that the BA.2 sublineage is more rapidly transmitted, but maintained that it is “extremely sensitive” to vaccination, therefore, he said, there is no need to worry and urged immunization for those who have not yet received the biological against the virus. virus.

Five cases of the new subvariant have been reported in the country and the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) has applied the respective protocols for the care and follow-up of these patients. In Ecuador there is no longer a delta variant, only cases of the omicron, according to the Health portfolio.

The Secretary of State indicated that 88.6% of the population has received a dose of the vaccine against the virus. Almost 85% of citizens of vaccinable age already have both doses, she indicated, and 30% have already received the third booster.

In Guayaquil, 2,279,596 people, aged five and older, have completed their vaccination schedule. 222,433 are missing from getting the second dose and 24.34% of those who decided to get vaccinated already have the booster.

Meanwhile, in Quito there are 2,421,603 citizens with the complete vaccination schedule. 11,683 are missing from getting the second dose and 49.22% of those who decided to be inoculated have already agreed to the third booster.

Cuenca has 542,546 people with a complete scheme. There are 13,224 citizens who are missing the second dose and 41.01% already have the third dose.

That is the immunization scenario in the three most populous cities in the country.

Camilo Salinas, former Minister of Health of the government of Lenín Moreno, said in an interview with radio Watchtower that the third dose against the coronavirus is of vital importance, since it protects the person in more than 90%, while those who have the two biological reinforcements ensure 70% protection against the virus, he emphasized.

Regarding the cases of the BA.2 subvariant reported on Tuesday, March 15 by the UEES research center, the former official predicted that in five days more patients could appear nationwide.

“This is going to be fast because the transmissibility of BA.2, basically, each case can transmit between seven, eight, even ten people around if we are not protected. So, this is going to be a much bigger explosion than BA.1, which is the omicron that we started between January and February throughout the world and in Ecuador,” Salinas said.

The doctor by profession said that he has treated patients who, while vaccinated, have been infected with COVID-19 up to five times, but who have had no complications thanks to the biological.

What are the current rules in Ecuador with the new scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic?

With updated information as of March 17, 853,411 confirmed coronavirus infections were reported in the national territory. Minister Ximena Garzón indicated that of almost 61,000 patients with the virus who received medical attention in epidemiological week number 2, the figure dropped to 1,361 in week 10 (the previous one).

And that is reflected in the occupation of hospital beds. In hospitalization, the Secretary of State maintained, there is a 13% occupancy of beds intended for patients with COVID-19. In Intensive Care Units (ICU) the rate is 29% and in intermediate care, 9%. (I)