So far, 82% of COVID-19 cases detected in Metropolitan Lima are believed to be caused by the Omicron variant, reported Augusto Tarazona,
Deputy Benefits-Health Insurance Minister Augusto Tarazona said on Sunday.
"According to findings and epidemiological estimates, 82% of the (COVID-19) cases in Metropolitan Lima are believed to be related to this new variant (Omicron), as well as a high percentage in the rest of the country," he said.
The government official stated that the Omicron variant has already been reported in 14 regions of the country; while, in Lima, seven districts have been put on red alert because they have exceeded the number of cases reported during the second wave of coronavirus.
After noting that 332 confirmed cases of Omicron have already been reported by the National Health Institute (INS), Tarazona said that the country is facing a very transmissible variant.
"The situation is becoming quite worrying due to the current transmission speed," the deputy minister remarked.
"Three weeks ago, 12,000 new cases were reported in a week; afterwards, 26,000 cases were reported the following week, and so far 50,000 cases have been reported before closing this week. The number of cases almost doubles every week," he added.
In this regard, he did not rule out the fact that the number of COVID-19 cases could exceed 150,000 per week in three weeks.
According to Tarazona, such increase would be a result of people's behavior and the gatherings that have been happening across the capital city.
(END) LIT/RMB
Published: 1/9/2022