December 18, 2022, 4:00
December 18, 2022, 4:00
Covid-19 infections have spread among young people in this sixth wave escalation, which is why the authorities are calling for biosecurity measures to be adapted to the end-of-year celebrations, as this is the population group most active in social gatherings.
This is reflected in official data, which also shows that deaths are occurring in people who have not received the vaccine or are not on the full regimen.
The authorities of the Departmental Health Service (Sedes), in their report presented to the Departmental Emergency Committee (COED), highlighted that the age group most affected is that from 18 to 49 years, which concentrates 63% of cases of covid- 19 and, even if there is no change compared to the other waves, the concern is that there is now an exponential growth in infections and with the end-of-year holidays there is a risk that 2023 will start with a massive contagion.
Indeed, this sharp increase that has occurred in the last two weeks is attributed to social habits, related to proms and other events, in which young people are the main protagonists.
And although most of them are fine with the covid, because they are asymptomatic and the disease passes like a cold, even more so if they have vaccines, the same does not happen with people who do not have the antibodies provided by the vaccines and, moreover, , , belong to risk groups, such as the elderly, with chronic diseases or immunosuppressed. Data show that over 80% of deaths occur in people with no doses or with the regimen incomplete. 68% of these deaths occur in people over the age of 60.
Former Minister of Health Aníbal Cruz, asks to take into account that this sixth wave is occurring due to the circulation of the subvariant BQ1.1 or “hell hound”, which is highly contagious, and due to social behavior, with a population that loosens biosecurity and participates in celebrations.
He insists that the population become aware and not loosen the mask because the contagion occurs due to viral load and exposure to the virus, so he asks not to neglect themselves so as not to get sick.
It agrees with the health authorities that the regimen must be completed to avoid complications of the disease and believes that there is still time to receive the dose to protect during the peak of this wave, expected for the first half of January 2023. This considering that protection is acquired 21 days after its application.
The Secretary of Health of the government, Edil Toledo, has indicated that it is striking that in this sixth wave the rate of contagion is very high and, therefore, vaccination and self-care are urged.
As in the fourth wave which peaked after the end of the year, this time it repeats itself with an accelerated rise.
