Health Min: Peru sees rise in COVID-19 cases but not in mortality

The government official explained that this is due to the fact that 

more than 80% of the (target) population has already received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, which protect this important group of citizens from complications in their health.

"For this reason, although (COVID-19) cases have increased, deaths associated with the variants in our country have not seen a rise," he emphasized.

In this regard, Cevallos noted that Peru is in conditions to control and make the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic less harmful, provided that an important sector of the population is vaccinated.

"(...) and if we also adhere to social distancing measures and wear two face masks. That is the best protection to stop the pandemic so that it does not overwhelm us and does not result in more health problems that it (the pandemic) will certainly create because of the existing demand at the primary care level and the number of patients who will require ICU admission," he stated.

The head of the country's health sector reiterated that 50% of ICU beds nationwide are occupied, while the ICU occupancy rate is much higher in places like Lima and northern Peru.

Remarks were made during a press conference held after a new session of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday afternoon.

(END) LIT/RMB/MVB