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Peru's Health Min: ICU beds are filling up faster than regular ones

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Council of Ministers

17:00 | Lima, Jan. 27.

Peruvian Health Minister Pilar Mazzetti on Wednesday warned that ICU beds are being occupied by COVID-19 patients more quickly than regular hospital beds because the coronavirus is showing a more aggressive behavior during this second wave.

According to the high-ranking official, at various health establishments nationwide it was observed that older COVID-19 patients get worse very quickly —in just two or three days—

while young people have symptoms different from those of the first wave, for example digestive symptoms (diarrhea).

"Hospital beds are being occupied, but there are many of them available as the increase is slow; on the other hand, the increase in occupation at Intensive Care Units is very fast. It means that people get sick, they are admitted to ERs, and from there directly transferred to ICUs," she indicated.

Likewise, the Health Ministry head explained that —as is happening in different parts of the world— the second COVID-19 wave is showing a more aggressive behavior due to the presence of

different variants of the virus, such as the British one, which is already in Peru.

In this sense, Dr. Mazzetti said it is very likely that —in the following weeks— more cases than those reported in the first wave will be registered, as is currently happening in all countries of Europe, North America, and Asia.

Remarks were made during a press conference held at the Government Palace in Lima.

(END) RRC/MVB

Publicado: 27/1/2021