The return to school has not led to an increase in COVID-19 infections among the general population and, therefore, it is a safe process for the country, the
Ministry of Health (Minsa) reported on Sunday.
"I want to be emphatic; no increase in cases has been observed. Isolated cases have been reported at some schools. Currently, three to four cases a week are reported, so the return to school is safe and will be even safer once children are vaccinated," Executive Director of Public Health Surveillance at the Ministry of Health (Minsa) Cesar Munayco remarked.
He commented that the country is currently in a period of low transmission of cases, but this could change in the following months due to the transmission dynamics of the pandemic, hence the importance of immunizing people against COVID-19.
"The pandemic is not over yet. The key to avoid what is currently happening in China or to prevent a fourth wave of the pandemic is vaccination. We have to continue administering the third dose and get children to complete their vaccination series," Munayco stated.
He explained that Minsa is working on different scenarios in the face of the changes that the pandemic is experiencing around the world.
"The most optimistic scenario is a lower number of cases. If a fourth wave were to hit, it would be at the end of December," the expert said.
"The most likely scenario is a similar one to that of the third wave, with Omicron. The most severe scenario is a wave with the same characteristics —in terms of mortality and hospitalizations— as the Delta- or Lambda-caused ones," he added.
Munayco explained that, although the numbers of infections are down, the protective measures against COVID-19, such as the use of face masks, cannot be lifted all at once.
(END) KGR/RMB
Published: 4/17/2022