on Tuesday reported that more than 206,000 new coronavirus infections were registered nationwide in the second week of January —a figure that exceeded by more than three times the peak of confirmed cases registered during the second wave (67,107).
According to EsSalud's Intelligence and Data Analysis Unit Chief Dante Cersso, the number of infected citizens during the second week of January expanded by more than 120% over the previous one (from January 1 to 7), which saw more than 93,000 new cases.
The official revealed that 17 of 25 regions exceeded the maximum number of weekly cases recorded during the first and second waves.
They included Ancash, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Cusco, Huanuco, Ica, Junín, Lima, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, and Tacna.
Likewise, an upward trend in cases was detected in 24 of 25 regions (increase in cases for three or more consecutive weeks). Most regions were included in the list, with the exception of Huancavelica.
Other data
Moreover, the official reported that the number of deaths per week (300) was exceeded after 19 consecutive weeks.
In fact, more than 380 deaths from COVID-19 were registered during the second week of January, which represented an increase of more than 33% compared to the previous one.
Hospitalization
Concerning hospitalizations at EsSalud facilities, the occupation of beds went from 1,606 in November 2021 to 3,166 in the second week of January 2022, which represented an expansion above 97%.
In addition, Cersso mentioned that 415 people currently occupy ICU beds —an increase of 25% compared to the beginning of November when 311 beds were occupied.
Lastly, he specified that in the first week of January more than 168,000 molecular tests were conducted —the maximum number reached so far during the pandemic.
The positivity rate went from 4% in the initial week of November to a figure above 30% in the second week of January.