Prime Minister Alberto Otarola on Thursday announced that the Government will not prohibit meetings or parties aimed at welcoming the New Year 2024, although he asked the population to get vaccinated and wear facemasks if there are any suspicion of the disease.
"There will be no restrictive measures; the population has scheduled its end-of-year meetings; no activities will be suspended, but I do reiterate the call for taking care of ourselves and getting vaccinated. The best measure one can take is to get the bivalent vaccine; there are enough (of them) nationwide in Peru," he said.
At a press conference after a Council of Ministers session, Otarola said "the disease is under control" and demanded that citizens follow recommendations of health authorities to prevent the virus (hand washing, ventilation of environments, and wearing facemasks in case of symptoms, as well as not attending crowded places).
Cases increased per week
During his speech,
Health Minister Cesar Vasquez reported that
there has been an increase in COVID-19 cases in December. However, he said, the figures have not been in the same proportion when it comes to
hospitalization, ICU admission, or deaths.
Vasquez explained that until November the average number of cases per week fluctuated between 600 and 700, while the figure rose to 1,700 per week last December.
Likewise, the average number of COVID-19 hospitalizations thru November was 20, a figure that rose to 40, mostly unvaccinated people with comorbidities.
"This increase, more or less, is triple the normal amount, but it has not meant an increase in hospitalizations due to this cause," Vasquez said.
"Covid brought pain and death at that time, but nowadays practically everyone already has defenses against this virus, some due to their body's natural response and others induced by the vaccine," he added.
(END) RRC/RMB/MVB
Published: 12/28/2023