New COVID-19 cases among children under 12 years of age have grown from 752 to 1,431 in the last 4 weeks, which represents an increase of 90%, the Intelligence and Data Analysis Unit (UIAD) of
the Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud) revealed on Thursday.
In the teenage group, the number of cases has risen from 741 to 1,212 in the same period, which translates into an increase of 64%.
The study indicates that the number of new cases per week, during the analyzed period, increased 90% among children (from 752 to 1,431 cases), 64% among teenagers (from 741 to 1,212 cases), 41% among young people (from 5,366 to 7,550 cases), 49% among adults (from 16,616 to 24,700 cases) and 51% among the elderly (from 5,258 to 7,933 cases).
Dante Cersso, head of UIAD, reported that the population has been failing to observe social distancing and other measures.
"In general, we have seen that the population is failing to observe social distancing and other prevention measures, such as not attending or hosting social gatherings, as well as wearing face masks continuously and avoiding minimal contact when going out or interacting with other people," he warned.
EsSalud's positivity rate by age group
The positivity rate indicates the percentage of people who test positive for the virus of those overall who have been tested.
In EsSalud, at the national level, the positivity rate stood at 30.4%, 30.9% and 32.4%, in the last three weeks, respectively.
In the case of children, the rate was 35.4%, 34.4% and 36.7%, which means the positivity remained above the national average in said period.
On the other hand, in the teenage group, the rate stood at 31.6%, 29.2% and 33.6%, while in the case of young people, it was 26.1%, 27.8% and 28.9%. As for adults, the rate sat at 29%, 29.6% and 31.3%.
Finally, in the case of the elderly population, the positivity rate was 37.5%, 36.9% and 37.6% in the last three weeks, respectively.
(END) NDP/LIT/RMB/MVB
Published: 8/13/2020