During the first week of January, 11,650 new coronavirus infections were detected in citizens between the ages 20 and 24; they represented an increase of 430% over the 2,197 cases registered in the last week of December 2021, the
reported on Saturday.
EsSalud's Intelligence and Data Analysis Unit Chief Dante Cersso observed that in the age range of 20 to 29 years, only 1 in 5 people was vaccinated with the
third (booster) dose.
Likewise, the official warned that in the first week of January adults aged 30 to 59 registered an accelerated increase in terms of infections, climbing from 12,452 to 46,586 new weekly cases nationwide (+274%).
Concerning older adults (aged 60 and over), the number of infected citizens went from 2,190 two weeks ago to 7,247 new cases (+231%).
Consecutive increase in regions
Additionally, the EsSalud spokesperson mentioned that a consecutive increase in cases was identified in eight regions of the country over the last three weeks.
These are:
Lima (from 6,763 to 51,942 new cases), Callao (from 342 to 4,146 new cases), Lambayeque (from 324 to 3,384 new cases), La Libertad (from 534 to 2,878 new cases), Ancash (from 468 to 2,692 new cases), Moquegua (from 61 to 2,637 new cases), Amazonas (from 170 to 483 new cases), and Tumbes (from 56 to 167 new cases).
"The presence of the
Omicron variant, crowding during the year-end holidays, and the inappropriate use of face masks (or even the lack of their use) are the main factors in the increase in infections," he indicated.