Andina

Health Min: Peru faces third COVID-19 wave

Photo: ANDINA/Carla Patiño

20:03 | Lima, Jan. 4.

Health Minister Hernando Cevallos on Tuesday evening confirmed that Peru is already facing a third wave of COVID-19, adding that the Omicron variant has become the predominant one in Metropolitan Lima accounting for more than 53% of cases.

During a press conference, the high-ranking official reported that the evaluation of cases in recent epidemiological weeks proves that coronavirus cases increased by more than 50% at the national level.

Only in the last week of 2021 there was a growth from 11,766 to 14,688.

"In other words, there was a very rapid and substantial increase in cases, particularly in Metropolitan Lima and also at the national level, which confirms the beginning of a third wave," he expressed.

Deaths

Minister Cevallos reported that deaths from all causes increased by 8% in December 2021, according to the National Death Registry Information System (Sinadef).
 
After verifying the data with the registry of vaccinated citizens, it was found that more than 90% of people deceased in the second half of 2021 had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Regions and districts

According to the latest genomic surveillance report, the Omicron variant has already become predominant in Metropolitan Lima accounting for more than 53% of cases.


In Metropolitan Lima, the districts on red alert (with an increase in cases above 30%) are: Lima, Santiago de Surco, Magdalena del Mar, Miraflores, Jesus Maria, San Borja, San Martin de Porres, San Isidro, La Molina, and San Juan de Lurigancho.

"This is the beginning of a significant increase, but it will surely spread to several populated areas where there is a higher percentage of unvaccinated people," he forecast.

(END) RRC/MVB

Published: 1/4/2022