Despite slight decrease in COVID 19 cases and deaths, Cuba continues worrying about high transmission

HAVANA, Cuba, Jul 13 (ACN) Although with a slight decrease in the number of cases diagnosed with COVID-19 and deaths in the last day, the transmission of the virus that causes this disease, SARS-CoV-2, remains high in Cuba, which in the 16 months of the pandemic has infected 250,527 people and accumulated 1,608 deaths.

In his daily report broadcast on Cuban TV, Dr. Francisco Duran, national director of epidemiology of the ministry of public health, informed that 38,721 samples were studied yesterday in the molecular biology laboratories, of which 5,613 were positive for SARS-CoV-2, for a 14.5 percent (%) positivity rate.

Of the 29 deaths in nine provinces, the highest figures correspond to Matanzas (13) and Havana (4).

Duran explained that 11 deaths were in the 50-59 age group; four in the 60-69 age group; while in the 70-79 and 80-89 age groups, six deaths were reported in each age group, and in the over 90 age group, two people died.

Among the main comorbidities were arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, cancer, senile dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchial asthma.

The provinces with the highest number of infections yesterday were Matanzas (1,468), Havana (691), Ciego de Avila (637), Santiago de Cuba (415), Camagüey (396), Villa Clara (369) and Guantanamo (325), according to the daily report.

The expert stressed that in the first 12 days of July, a total of 9,635 pediatric-aged patients have been infected, with a daily average of 803 cases detected with the COVID-19.

The national director of epidemiology explained that during this period, a total of 56,582 patients have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 306 have died, with an average of 4,715 new patients and 26 deaths daily.

Duran warned that in June, 50,622 people were diagnosed with the virus, which shows how risky it is due to the virulence and lethality of the new variants that are circulating, mainly the Delta, which also has greater transmissibility.

The important thing is that we realize that we are in a tremendous epidemiological transmission and that we cannot leave everything to the State, stressed Dr. Duran, after insisting again to the population on self-responsibility and the care of the family, mainly the most vulnerable.