Paraguay moderately “optimistic” about recent drop in Covid infections

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Paraguay’s Director of Health Surveillance Guillermo Sequera said Friday (30) that the number of Covid-19 infections in the country has registered a “very significant” decline, with a return to February’s level, which instills “optimism,” although he said that it should be moderate as the figures are still high.

Sequera recalled that those same numbers seemed “very high” in February, while now “they seem low,” after daily figures exceeding 100 deaths and over 2,000 infections. “We have the numbers of what is critical in recent memory, but the numbers are still significant,” he stressed.

The director pointed out that there are 17 districts in the country with a “very high circulation” of the virus, among them the capital Asunción, although there has been a “gradual but marked” decline.

With a little over seven million inhabitants, Paraguay has totaled 14,876 deaths and 451,695 infections since March 2020, when the first coronavirus case was detected, according to the latest Ministry of Health records.

EFFECT OF VACCINES

During his weekly press conference, Sequera explained the impact that vaccination is starting to have on the numbers of hospitalized patients, intensive care patients and deaths.

Between April and June this year, 36,000 coronavirus cases were reported in people over 60, of which 55% had been administered at least one vaccine dose, while the remaining 45% had not been vaccinated at all.

Among vaccinated individuals, hospitalizations stood at 19.8%; hospitalizations in intensive care at 8.8%; and deaths at 5.9%.

In the non-vaccinated group, 32.1% of infected patients died, 39.8% were hospitalized and 13.1% were admitted to intensive care.

“At least one dose of any of the vaccines reduces hospitalization in our population over 60 years of age by 50%; 36% fewer hospitalizations in intensive care; and 82% (fewer) chances of dying,” Sequera said.

The director clarified that this is the age group that “reacts to a lesser extent” to the vaccine and does not generate “all the expected immunity,” so the vaccine’s impact figures could be higher in younger age groups.

“Let’s go for the second dose, people, let’s not forget. Let’s get these values up. Let’s go for the second dose,” Sequera encouraged Paraguayans.

NO NEW DELTA CASES

Last week, Sequera confirmed the detection of six cases of the Delta variant in the country, although for the moment there have been no notifications of new infections. However, he reported that there are “suspicions” that the number could increase.

“Samples will be sent for sequencing starting next week. Every week we have suspected cases, but we have not had any other confirmation since those six,” he said at the press conference.