Health Minister Hernando Cevallos on Wednesday confirmed that COVID-19 infections in Peru have increased significantly due to the Omicron variant, but mortality rates remain at similar levels to last weeks.
"For this reason, although (COVID-19) cases have increased, deaths associated with the variants in our country have not seen a rise," he emphasized.
"(...) 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
Published: 1/5/2022