The Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud) on Wednesday reported that more than 230,000 new infections and less than 500 deaths from COVID-19 were registered in Peru during the second week of January 2022.
"If we compare what happened (during the second wave) in terms of number of infections and deaths, there is a quite large difference," he noted.
Along these lines, Cersso recalled that more than 67,000 infections and over 5,700 deaths were reported per week during the second wave's peak.
Hospitalizations and ICU
Furthermore, the EsSalud official reported that there has been a 100% increase in COVID-19-related hospitalizations in the country between the start of November 2021 and the current date, in addition to a 30% increase in ICU bed occupancy rate.
"There were 1,600 patients in EsSalud beds; now we have more than 3,200 patients. We had 331 (patients) in ICU beds, but now we have more than 400 patients," he detailed.
Regions
Moreover, Cersso revealed that 17 of 25 regions exceeded the maximum number of weekly cases registered during the first and second waves of the pandemic.
The regions included Ancash, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Cusco, Huanuco, Ica, Junín, Lima, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, and Tacna.
In addition, an upward trend in cases was identified in 24 of 25 regions (increase in cases for three or more consecutive weeks), with the exception of Huancavelica.