These are the reasons why Colombia entered a fifth peak of the covid-19 pandemic

After several weeks following the country relaxed the measures once morest the spread of covid-19, the Ministry of Health reported each week on the progressive increase in infections in the national territory, until this Friday, July 8, the arrival of a fifth peak of the pandemic was announced that would once once more threaten the Colombian population.

Despite the fact that it was warned that, as in other countries, Colombia might have a new increase in infections due to the nature of the virusas well as the elimination of the mask in open spaces and some others closed; The advancement of the subvariants of ómicron, BA.4 and BA.5 would be one of the main reasons why the country has increased its numbers of sick and deceased in the health emergency.

According to the genomic studies of the National Institute of Health (INS), 50% of cases with BA.4 and BA.5 have been detected in the national territory, given this, the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, explained that “One would expect a fairly busy two or three weeks in terms of affectation. We would hope that later there will be a reduction ”, estimating the time that this fifth peak might last in the country.

Another reason why a fifth peak would have been reached, as confirmed by the Ministry of Health, has been the decrease in vaccination once morest the disease, which would be directly affecting people over 60 years of age, a sector of the population that has shown itself to be more vulnerable to the virus.

“Currently, vaccination is decreasing, which is parallel to the increase in cases and deaths… The authorities have to make a greater effort to reach the highest-risk population”, expressed the director of Promotion and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, Gerson Bermont Galvis.

Health personnel attend to covid-19 patients. (AP Photo) – Photo: AP

The analysis made it known following indicating that in week 70, when 283,228 doses were applied, 52 deaths were recorded; in week 71, when 221,126 doses were applied, the number of deaths rose to 100; in week 72, with 202,983 doses applied, the deceased already stood at 132.

Although vaccination once morest covid-19 in the country is not going astray, since Colombia is part of the 48 countries, they have achieved figures of up to 70% of the total number of people inoculated with complete schemesthe number of doses applied daily has been reduced, and the authorities have affirmed that some older adults have not attended the vaccination points for the reinforcements.

“Today we are recommending, with the increase in cases that we have, a greater sense of self-care on the part of the populations, and that older adults and people with comorbidities use the mask in closed spaces or with crowdsBermont said.

Faced with this situation, the Ministry of Health has drawn the attention of citizens, indicating the need to implement measures to prevent contagion, including the use of face masks in closed spaces, continuing with vaccination, increasing the taking of virus detection tests and take quarantines, as well as having a stricter control with the anticovid requirements for the arrival of foreigners and nationals to the country.

“It is important that the EPS and the IPS do not put administrative obstacles to the application of the test… make an effort to summon people over 70 by different means to attend the vaccination”, Minister Ruiz indicated, calling on health entities to coordinate work and reduce the number of deaths and those infected by covid-19.