They celebrated the cat’s birthday in a pandemic: 15 coronavirus infections | the Chronicle

One of the riskiest activities is underground parties. since they tend to generate new sources of coronavirus infections. Since the start of the pandemic, many examples have appeared in various parts of the world, but so far a celebration has never featured a cat. Until a few days ago, the government of Chile confirmed that The Covid-19 epidemic recorded in the municipality of Santo Domingo, in the region of Valparaíso, a few months ago was caused by the unusual birthday of a feline.

In conversation with Radio Bío Bío, the Ministry of Health of Valparaíso, Francisco Alvarez, He recounted how he experienced this situation: “When I found out it was the cat’s birthday, I said… just kidding. Maybe they said it as if to hide something else, but it was actually like that. We corroborate this because at least six of these fifteen (infected) people told us the same thing. “

The health official said ten people attended the cat’s birthday itself, while the other five were infected by being close contacts of those infected. “The cat never had the virus. The organizer of the birthday party, its owner, was the index case”revealed the official, who was on the verge of death at the time of contracting the disease.

“Although it sounds incredible and even fictional, these things are really happening in our country compared to what happened in the pandemic“Álvarez lamented and stressed the importance for citizens to comply with current restrictions and take care of themselves “To prevent a celebratory situation from ending in tragedy”.

“It’s complex and it’s a bit incomprehensible, especially since we’ve said it all over the place: that if people do meet, they have to take precautionary measures. Otherwise, better to stay at home ”, added.

Unusual situations

Álvarez also said that other unusual situations were experienced in the midst of checks, such as a child under 3 with a collective work permit, family groups with hours at the same doctor, or the recent discovery of a family who traveled hidden in a truck to enter the region.

However, Situations of infidelity have also been exposed since, as he assured: “We have identified“ black legs. ”It has been very uncomfortable.

“An infected person appears and in the traceability of close contact, you realize that he was not only with his wife or husband “said the official.

According to data from Chile’s Ministry of Health, last Sunday, Saturday January 17, 4,339 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed and the total number of infected in the South American country rose to 669,832. During this time, the death toll from the pandemic rose to 17,477, adding 42 more deaths.