Health reports 29 new deaths from COVID-19 in Puerto Rico

The Department of Health reported 29 deaths from COVID-19 in Puerto Rico on Friday, the highest figure reported for that line on the same day, bringing the total death toll to 1,761.

According to the agency, of the 29 deaths, 27 have so far occurred in January, while the other two occurred on 1 and 16 December 2020.

New reported deaths:

– 55-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– 67-year-old woman from the Bayamón region

– A 53-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– An 80-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– 66-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– A 58-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– 92-year-old woman from the Bayamón region

– 92-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– 37-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– An 80-year-old woman from the Bayamón region

– 65-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– A 73-year-old man from the Arecibo region

– 60-year-old man from the Arecibo region

– 85-year-old man from the Arecibo region

– 41-year-old woman from the metro region

– A 53-year-old man from the Metro region

– 33-year-old man from the Metro region

– 74-year-old woman from the metro region

– A 71-year-old man from the Metro region

– a 93-year-old woman from the subway region

– 83-year-old woman from the metro region

– 41-year-old woman from the Caguas region

– 85-year-old man from the Caguas region

– 71-year-old woman from the Caguas region

– 79-year-old woman from the Caguas region

– 101-year-old man from the Caguas region

– 89-year-old woman from the Caguas region

– An 80-year-old man from the Caguas region

– 67-year-old woman from the Aguadilla region

“It is important to remember that any deaths recorded after the publication of the report will be reflected in subsequent reports,” Salud warned in a press release.

Given the increasing number of deaths, Health Secretary Carlos Mellado urged citizens to wear a mask and not lower their guard, as the epidemiological behavior of positive COVID-19 cases is also on the rise.

“It is unfortunate that we continue to lose our lives because of this pandemic. I sympathize with all the families in Puerto Rico who have lost their loved ones. What we faced was very difficult and we cannot lower our guard. We cannot forget that the virus is still with us. We must continue to use the mask, spacing and hand washing to prevent other infections.Mellado insisted in written statements.

“We must avoid parties and gatherings that go beyond the core of the family. The pandemic is not over. Use of the mask should continue as long as the virus is active. We are already monitoring for possible virus variants and ordering reagents to begin sequencing and establishing genomic surveillance. In the meantime, we’re sending samples to the CDC to find out how the virus has progressed so far“The official added.

On the other hand, The agency reported 317 new cases confirmed by the molecular test, 107 new probable cases by the antigen test and 257 new cases by the serological test. The new results are based on samples that were taken between January 6 and January 20, 2021.

The total number of confirmed cases increased to 82,990, but was adjusted after the addition of 136 cases before January 6, 2021. In addition, three duplicate cases were reduced.

They also adjusted the total probable cases, which is now 6,292, by subtracting 33 cases that had a positive molecular test and adding 30 cases before January 6, 2021.

They also adjusted the total number of suspicious cases to 63,594, after deducting 69 cases that had a positive molecular test and five cases that had a positive antigen test. They also added 81 cases before January 6, 2021 and dropped three duplicate cases in this category.

In the meantime, the number of patients hospitalized for the virus was placed at 341, of which 56 are confined in an intensive care unit and 53 are connected to an artificial respirator. A minor is also in intensive care due to the disease.

To date, hospitals have 195 intensive care beds and 857 artificial respirators available for adults.

According to the agency, the confirmed positive case term refers to infections whose result was validated by a PCR (molecular) test. The probable case is one whose positive result for the disease was obtained by antigen testing. Meanwhile, the suspected cases, also known as antibody results, are those that have a positive serological test and do not have a positive molecular or antigen test.

In addition, the agency explained that a confirmed death of COVID-19 corresponds to the death of a person with one or more positive molecular tests. Probable death is the death of a patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19 by an antigen test or whose clinical picture meets the criteria to believe that he or she had COVID-19 but never had a molecular or antigen test to detect the virus . Meanwhile, suspicious death refers to the death of a person in whom a specific antibody is detected in serum, plasma or by a serological test with their blood.