Andina

Peru: COVID-19 contagion rate in regions down by 12%

Photo: ANDINA/Diffusion

Photo: ANDINA/Diffusion

12:43 | Lima, Sep. 29.

The rate of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in Peruvian regions decreased by an average of 12% in the third week of September if compared to the previous one, the Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud) reported on Tuesday.

Within this framework, EsSalud's Intelligence and Data Analysis Unit Chief Dante Cersso specified that 30,000 new cases were reported in the third week of September.

The specialist stressed that in this new EsSalud Heat Map report four regions —which until a few weeks ago had recorded high numbers of COVID-19 cases— now register sharp declines.

"This is the case of Loreto, Moquegua, Huanuco, and Pasco. For example, contagions in Loreto have decreased considerably. Of the 500 cases reported two weeks ago, it now records 300 cases per week. Likewise, Moquegua went from 1,400 cases per week to 900," Cersso said in remarks to RPP radio and TV station.

This same trend is registered in cities with large populations such as Lima, Lambayeque, and Piura.

He stressed that the participation of the population —which has become aware of the severity of the disease— is vital in reducing new coronavirus cases. In this sense, the official requested citizens not to be overconfident and to comply with the established biosafety measures.

Yet Cersso warned that the number of infections in the south of the country is still high, especially in the regions: Madre de Dios, Puno, Cusco, and Arequipa; in addition to Amazonas in the north.

(END) MAO/MVB

Published: 9/29/2020