The Brazilian variant of the coronavirus has been detected in patients, who tested positive for COVID-19 in Lima, Loreto and Huanuco regions,
confirmed on Thursday evening.
According to the Cabinet member, the information was provided by epidemiology experts at her office.
"The Brazilian (COVID-19) variant is in Loreto, Huanuco, and Lima," said the head of the
Ministry of Health (Minsa) while detailing the reasons for the rapid increase in COVID-19 infections reported over recent weeks.
A more aggressive virus
Regarding the evolution of the pandemic, Mazzetti affirmed that the current reproduction rate —R Factor— of the disease is 1.18, adding that a rapid increase in the number of infections has been reported, in a "more aggressive and deadly form."
In this sense, she noted that the upward curve in the second wave is considerably steeper than it was during the first stage of the emergency, in the second quarter of 2020.
It has been found that —in just four weeks— infections have reached the level seen in the first two months of the pandemic last year, the minister commented.
"It (the contagion rate) is tremendously more aggressive," she remarked.
Death curve
Regarding the death toll, the government official stated that the curve is also steep, due to the aggressiveness of the virus variants, two of which —the one detected in the UK and another in Brazil— are already in the country.
Remarks were made during her participation in a Congress plenary session.