During the past epidemiological week (EW-27) 40,886 new cases of COVID-19 were registered in Peru, a figure that represents an expansion of 100.5% over the amount recorded the previous week which saw 20,387, the
"The number of infections doubled in a week due to the sublineages of the Omicron variant and neglect by the population in terms of (complying with) protection measures," EsSalud spokesman Dr. Edwin Neciosup indicated.
The official specified that cases increased in 42 districts of Metropolitan Lima —mainly in Central Lima (2,308 new cases), Santiago de Surco (1,967), Jesus Maria (1,471), La Molina (1,179), and Magdalena del Mar (1,146).
Higher numbers of infected people were also reported in San Borja (1,142), Miraflores (1,088), San Juan de Lurigancho (819), San Miguel (777), San Isidro (739), Ate (724), San Martin de Porres (715), Surquillo (583), Pueblo Libre (554), Chorrillos (543), Los Olivos (536), Comas (477), and Lince (427), among other jurisdictions.
Similarly, he indicated that there was increase in coronavirus cases in 24 Peruvian regions —being Lima and Arequipa the areas that reported the greatest increases, with 21,926 and 5,242 infections, respectively.
Other regions with more infected citizens were: Ancash (2,221), Cusco (1,781), Junin (1,171), Callao (1,043), La Libertad (945), Moquegua (927), Cajamarca (736), and Lambayeque (632), among others.
The spokesman mentioned that positivity rates also increased in 153 Peruvian provinces, such as Chachapoyas (+466%), followed by Cajamarca (+449%), Huanuco (+234%), Santa (+220%), Puno (+163%), Mariscal Nieto (+160%), Callao (+126%), Chiclayo (+117%), Lima (+115%), Trujillo (+107%), and Tacna (+104%).
Hospitalizations
The EsSalud spokesperson noted that last week an average of 1,079 people hospitalized for COVID-19 were recorded in health subsystems nationwide —a figure higher than that registered the previous week (968).
Concerning the occupation of ICU beds, Dr. Neciosup reported that the number of patients fighting for their lives at intensive care units went from 143 to 164.
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We are in a fourth wave of the pandemic; don't let our guard down. We must continue to wear facemasks, wash our hands, maintain social distancing, and most importantly, complete the vaccination scheme," he concluded.