Covid-19 active cases quadruple in two weeks
Active cases of covid-19 have quadrupled in the last two epidemiological weeks, amid the fifth wave of infections reports the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The most recent situation report published on May 17— shows that there were more than 6,066 active cases in week 17 (April 24 to 30) which climbed to 24,653 in week 19 (May 8 to 14), which represents an increase of 306% for every 100,000 inhabitants.
The document specifies that this increase in active cases originates at the expense of the increase of between 112% and 520% in eight provinces: Herrera, Panamá Oeste, Panamá, Los Santos, Chiriquí, Coclé, Veraguas and Darién.
Hospitalizations rising
The country registered a significant increase in hospitalizations in the last two weeks. The PAHO document details that in week 17 there were 95 admissions to hospitals and that for week 19 the figure increased to 175, that is, an increase of 84.2%.
The increase in hospitalizations in the ward went from 84 in week 17 to 148 in week 19, while in the ICU it went from 11 to 27, in the same period.
Jorge Luis Prosperi, a public health specialist and member of the Health Advisory Council, said that for five consecutive weeks there has been an increase in cases, and that hospitalizations are on the rise.
As of May 17, there were 224 people hospitalized for covid-19 (189 in the ward and 35 in the ICU), according to the Ministry of Health.
Prosperi said it is worrying that active cases continue to trend upwards and that more than 28 days ago the country left the safety zone of 5% positivity in laboratory tests. It is currently 21.9%.
