According to the latest report from the
's (EsSalud) Intelligence and Data Analysis Unit (UIAD), 3,140 new cases of COVID-19 were registered during the third week of May; this figure represents a slight increase in the number of infections nationwide.
Raymundo Pillaca, spokesperson for
EsSalud, on Wednesday reported that cases increased slightly in 27 districts of Lima Metropolitan Area and Callao region over the past epidemiological week.
These are Callao, Bellavista, La Punta, Mi Peru, and Ventanilla (Callao region); Rimac, Carabayllo, San Martin de Porres, Cieneguilla, Independencia, Comas, Chorrillos, Chaclacayo, Surquillo, Pueblo Libre, San Borja, Jesus Maria, Magdalena de Mar, San Luis, Pachacamac, Santa Anita, La Molina, Santiago de Surco, Lurigancho-Chosica, Miraflores, San Isidro, and Barranco (Metropolitan Lima).
At the regional level, infections increased slightly in Ancash, Arequipa, Tacna, Junin, Huanuco, Callao, Moquegua, Ica, Cajamarca, Cusco, Lima, and Lambayeque.
Deaths
Regarding deaths, the EsSalud representative explained that for 15 consecutive weeks there has been a decrease in people who have died from COVID-19. During last week, there were 77 deaths from the dreaded disease.
"The slight uptick in cases is due to various factors, including the presence of Omicron subvariants and the carelessness of people in not maintaining biosafety measures such as wearing face masks, washing hands, and maintaining social distancing," he pointed out.
Hospitalizations
The EsSalud spokesperson noted that last week an average of 714 people hospitalized due to COVID-19 were registered in the health subsystems.
The maximum figure recorded so far this year was 6,867, which represents a decrease of 90%.
Regarding the occupation of ICU beds, he indicated that an average of 197 critical patients were registered in intensive care units last week.
The peak reported during this year was 1,358 (-85%).
Exhortation
Pillaca said that, although Peru is not currently among the 20 countries with the highest rate of confirmed cases per one million inhabitants, it is important that the population continues to protect itself.
In this sense, he called on citizens to complete the vaccination scheme that protects them from presenting serious symptoms of the disease and in need of ICU beds.