New COVID-19 cases in Peru have declined by 78% since the second wave peak in the fourth week of March 2021, according to the
National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control (CDC) run by the
Ministry of Health (Minsa).
According to Cesar Munayco, CDC's Executive Director of Public Health Surveillance, the second wave started in late December and —after the peak in late March— the decrease of cases has occurred at an average weekly rate of 13%.
"60,041 infected people were reported at the peak, a figure that has gradually dropped," the expert indicated.
However, this decline in the number of cases has happened at different rates in regions across the country. In Callao, the cases fell 97%, at a rate of 26% per week; while in Ucayali, the cases dropped 95% compared to the peak week, at an average rate of 14% every seven days.
As for the capital city Lima, the cases reduced by 84.1%.
Munayco stated that these falls are explained by different factors, such as the
measures implemented by the Government through specific actions based on the risk level for COVID-19 in each region and on restrictions for meetings and social events; as well as the vaccination strategy focused on prioritizing vulnerable populations and health personnel.
"Wearing two face masks, staying in family or social bubbles, avoiding crowded places, washing hands constantly, and maintaining social distancing have been key to curbing the second wave in almost all regions of the country," the epidemiologist pointed out.
(END) NDP/RMB/MVB
Published: 6/18/2021