Uruguay suffers shock of cases and deaths, despite hailed handling of pandemic – telam

Uruguay suffers shock of cases and deaths, despite hailed management

In Uruguay, 128 people have died from the coronavirus in the past 18 days, the same number as all those who died between March 13 and December 23, 2020, according to the National Emergency System (Sinae).

Likewise, in the past 18 days, 11,529 infections have been confirmed by PCR testing, a figure that contrasts with the 14,930 cases recorded between March 13 and December 23, 2020, for just over nine months. .

The comparisons show similar dramatic growth across all categories.

For example, if only health workers are taken into account, during the months of 2020 950 people fell ill, up from 478 in the last 18 days, according to the local newspaper El País.

As if that were not enough to describe the serious moment that the neighboring country is going through, the number of people in intensive care has reached its highest level since the start of the pandemic -97 patients-, as well as the positivity rate.

On Sunday there was a new record of new cases and according to infectologist Henry Albornoz this increase is mainly due to the New Year celebrations.

He also explained that “this was not reflected in admissions to intensive care units as there is a lag between two and three weeks.”

“It is therefore possible that from January 20, this will begin to be reflected in more compatriots who could die and in the increase in the occupation of intensive care beds,” he warned.

Uruguay, which extended the border closure until the end of the month, has so far been one of the countries most praised for its actions in the face of the pandemic.