In the last three weeks, cases of covid-19 have been on the rise. Even the last official part of the Ministry of Public Health indicated that the new positives increased fivefold. In this context, the Minister of Health, Alejandra Venerando, commented that they expect a new doubling of cases, but that this increase in the contagion curve is part of the path that the pandemic will take, in the transition to endemicity. “We have to assume that we are in a transition stage and that covid-19 will be part of common respiratory diseases, such as the flu. An increase or decrease in cases in seasonal times will be normal, as is the case with other respiratory pathologies,” said the minister and insisted that the people of San Juan must continue to take care of themselves, getting vaccinated. At the same time, she said that activities will continue as normal and gave them a thumbs down for possible restrictions.
Since April 26, San Juan shows a gradual increase in cases. She went from detecting 18 new cases to 213. In this context, the minister stressed that the increase was expected, in fact, she added that they expect another duplication, but insisted that there is no need to be alarmed. “We are going to have twists and turns in relation to infections. We have to take the disease as one more, and work accordingly. That is, we will do the same as we do with the flu, that we aim at vaccination, at immunity herd and try to carry out activities in the most normal way possible, taking into account the recommendations,” he said, stressing that at this time San Juan has 59% of its population with 3 doses of the covid vaccine placed and a 92%, with the first two doses.
Speaking of the transition and emphasizing that the increase will not lead to a change in the normality that the province has at the moment, the minister said that little by little they will take new measures, so that the pandemic becomes endemic. In fact, she recalled that between Friday and yesterday two changes were announced that make the province more flexible. One of them has to do with the isolation of positive people (see separately) and the other with new criteria related to the people who will be tested. It is that, it was reported that it will prioritize to test people with respiratory diseases who are older than 50 years and with risk conditions, people who reside, work or attend areas that present a greater risk of transmission or generation of outbreaks (prison institutions, centers with institutionalized people, people who work or care for vulnerable people), people with a history of travel in the last 14 days in a region where a variant of interest or concern is circulating, people with serious illness , or deaths and unusual cases, or the entire population during the investigation and control of outbreaks.
“We are going to prioritize the risk groups for testing. People who are not part of these risk groups will be able to access testing with the indication of a doctor, as is the case with other respiratory diseases. All this is part of the transition measures. We have to be vigilant, but on alert. The restrictions are unnecessary because we are going to have some outbreaks or reductions in cases, but we are going to continue insisting on care and epidemiological surveillance as we do with all diseases,” concluded the Venerable Minister.
New measures
On the way to the transition from pandemic to endemic, Salud has made several changes in recent days. One of them is related to new isolation guidelines for covid-19 positive people.
According to what they reported, people with symptoms of acute respiratory infection and confirmed cases of covid should take extreme prevention measures for 10 days, avoid contact with vulnerable people and should not go to work, educational activities or public places during the period. acutely symptomatic or for 5 days from the date of diagnosis. Whether or not the person has symptoms. At the same time, extreme care is requested for 10 days (adequate and permanent use of a mask; adequate ventilation of environments; hand washing and respiratory hygiene).
On the other hand, it was reported that in case of being positive for covid-19, strict clinical follow-up and follow-up of close contacts will be indicated according to protocol. While close contacts will be able to continue with their normal activities, if they do not present symptoms of the disease.
In addition, they said that the use of chinstraps in work, educational, and social settings is recommended for the general population. This, despite the fact that it is no longer mandatory.
