So far in the fifth wave of the pandemic, 137,278 confirmed cases, 493 deaths (which equates to a 0.35% mortality) and 973 hospitalizations have been reported, most of whom did not have the vaccine against the coronavirus, the director-general said. National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control (CDC) of the Ministry of Health (MINSA), Dr. César Munayco Escate.
According to the specialist, in Epidemiological Week (SE) 44-2022 (October 30 to November 5) cases increased by 145.5% compared to what was reported in SE 43-2022 (October 23 to October 29). In EW 45-2022 (November 6 to 12) cases increased by 174.1% compared to EW 44-2022; and in EW 46-2022 (November 13-19) the increase is 110% compared to EW 45-2022.
“In the number of positive cases there is a significant increase, in SE 46 we have reached 50 thousand cases and in SE 47 there are 47 thousand cases, but we have not yet reached fourth wave levels (…) Lima for being the capital of the country the largest number of cases is concentrated. So far, all regions, with the exception of Loreto, are reporting an increase in cases,” he said.
In relation to covid-19 deaths, Munayco indicated that most of the deceased were over the age of 59. Death was more frequent among those who received no (0.62%) or only one (0.59%) booster dose than among those who received two (0.31%).
“There is an increase in deaths, but it is not yet compared to previous waves. The people who die are mainly elderly people. And those who get infected are young people, adults and the elderly; For this reason it is important to take the preventive measures that we are all familiar with,” she said.
According to what was reported in SE 47-2022 compared to SE 46-2022, there are 12 districts nationwide where an increase in deaths is observed. These are: Chimbote, Cajamarca, Callao, Comas, Jesús María, La Molina, Cercado de Lima, Miraflores, Rímac, San Borja, San Juan de Lurigancho and Santiago de Surco.
As for the number of patients hospitalized for covid-19, he said that in the fifth wave, 973 hospitalizations were recorded, maintaining an upward trend. And 26 people are hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Most of the inmates are over the age of 29. Hospitalized cases had respiratory distress, irritability, abdominal pain, seizures, and pathological pulmonary auscultation more frequently than non-hospitalized cases. Furthermore, most were patients with comorbidities, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, kidney disease, lung disease, HIV, and cancer.
“There has been a significant increase in hospitalizations, in SE 47 we had 336 hospitalizations nationwide, we have not yet reached fourth wave levels, but it is important to be responsible with our behavior because this pandemic, like any other disease, it is closely related to human behavior,” said the director general of the CDC Peru.
Faced with this panorama, César Munayco urges the population to continue to respect prevention measures such as the use of a mask in closed places with little ventilation, constant hand washing and physical distancing, as well as to complete the vaccination program with the corresponding doses according to age.
