Global Courant
Due to the increase in positive cases of the new Ómicron XBB.1,16 variant of covid-19, the Departmental Directorate of Integrated Health Services Networks of Guatemala, Central Area, recommended to the population that this June 25 that they be carried out After the 2023 general elections, citizens wear a mask and maintain biosecurity measures to avoid contagion.
In addition, as a strategy in response to the institutional alert, from June 21 to July 2 they will have three mobile units for a comprehensive health day in the Plaza de la Constitución in zone 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Augusto Contreras, head of the Guatemala Central Health area, reported that the aforementioned variant is quite “explosive” and that the population is “contaminated” in a matter of 24 to 48 hours, with the already known symptoms, added to this conjunctivitis to diarrhea
He said that currently in the capital the positivity rate is 16%, that is, “we are increasing.”
Before this situation, he recommended to the population the use of a mask, the use of alcohol gel, since where there are crowds there is a greater risk of infection.
According to Contreras, in the capital 100% of the population is vaccinated, which gives immunity capacity, although he clarified that even if the person is vaccinated, they can be infected.
Just last June 17, the Board of Directors of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Guatemala expressed its concern about the current situation of the increase in covid-19 cases in Guatemala.
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In a statement, he expressed his concern about the increase in infections in recent weeks, according to the covid-19 Health Alert Board, which currently establishes that 74 municipalities are on orange alert, 263 on yellow alert and 3 on red alert.
He warned that the epidemiological behavior is expected to continue showing an increase in cases between June and August 2023, as the disease has historically been.
He indicated that Guatemala is on the list of countries in the Region with the greatest lag in vaccination coverage, “51% of the total population that has received one dose and 41% with two doses of vaccine for covid-19” and without Clarity of a plan that responds to improvements.
He added that it is not surprising that an outbreak of the disease is registered again, with an escalation in the incidence of cases.
According to the College, only 21% of the total population received a third booster of the vaccine, and the majority received it more than a year ago, which increases the possibility of outbreaks like the one being observed.
Although it does not have the severity that it had in previous years, an accumulation of potential susceptibles that can present the disease is being created.
Strengthen prevention measures
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Guatemala made a call to the authorities and population.
Continuously strengthen prevention measures, since failure to do so risks immediate consequences for public health in the medium and long term; In addition, facing the potential risk that the virus will continue to evolve and cause more problems for the Guatemalan population, ranging from complications, hospitalization, death, and/or sequelae of prolonged covid-19. Call on the Guatemalan population to continue with prevention measures such as hand washing with soap and water, physical distancing and the use of a mask in poorly ventilated or crowded places, a highly important preventive measure to avoid an increase in infections and If you are sick or have respiratory symptoms, stay at home or use high-efficiency masks when in contact with other people Guarantee access to tests that facilitate the diagnosis of and oral treatments that have the approval of regulatory entities since they work, avoiding complications in risk patients. Guarantee close epidemiological surveillance of transmission, especially due to the potential entry of a new subvariant of covid-19. Ensure financing, acquisition, access, equitable and updated distribution of the vaccine in the population, especially in populations at risk and more vulnerable. Also, strengthen efforts to increase vaccination coverage and thus avoid the unequal distribution of this existing preventive measure in the country, which should be a health priority on the country’s agenda.
