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

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

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

New deaths reported:

– 55-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– 67-year-old woman from the Bayamón region

– 53-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– 80-year-old male from the Bayamón region

– 66-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– 58-year-old male from the Bayamón region

– 92-year-old woman from the Bayamón region

– 92-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– 37-year-old male from the Bayamón region

– 80-year-old woman from the Bayamón region

– 65-year-old man from the Bayamón region

– 73-year-old man from the Arecibo region

– 60-year-old male from the Arecibo region

– 85-year-old male from the Arecibo region

– 41-year-old woman from the Metro region

– 53-year-old male from the Metro region

– 33-year-old male from the Metro region

– 74-year-old woman from the Metro region

– 71-year-old man from the Metro region

– 93-year-old woman from the Metro region

– 83-year-old woman from the Metro region

– 41-year-old woman from the Caguas region

– 85-year-old male from the Caguas region

– 71-year-old woman from the Caguas region

– 79-year-old woman from the Caguas region

– 101-year-old male from the Caguas region

– 89-year-old woman from the Caguas region

– 80-year-old male from the Caguas region

– 67-year-old woman from the Aguadilla region

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

Given the increase in the number of deaths, Health Minister Carlos Mellado urged civilians to use a mask and be no less wary, as the epidemiological behavior of positive cases of COVID-19 is also on the rise.

“It is a shame that we are still losing lives because of this pandemic. I sympathize with all Puerto Rican families who have lost their loved ones. It has been very difficult what we have been dealing with and we cannot lower our guard. We must not forget that the virus is still with us. We must continue to use the mask, stand back and wash our hands to avoid further infectionsMellado insisted on it in written statements.

“We must avoid parties and gatherings that transcend the family core. The pandemic is not over. The mask should be used as long as the virus is active. We monitor all possible virus variants and order reagents to start sequencing and set up genomic surveillance. In the meantime, we are sending samples to the CDC to know the evolution of the virus so farAdded the official.

From elsewhere, 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 taken between January 6 and January 20, 2021.

The total number of confirmed cases rose to 82,990, but was adjusted after adding 136 cases before January 6, 2021. In addition, three double cases were deducted.

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

They also adjusted the total number of suspected cases, which stands at 63,594, after subtracting 69 cases with a positive molecular test and five cases with a positive antigen test. Likewise, they added 81 cases before January 6, 2021 and three duplicate cases were deducted in this category.

Meanwhile, the number of patients hospitalized because of the virus was placed at 341, of which 56 are in an intensive care unit and 53 are connected to a ventilator. A minor is also in intensive care because of the disease.

Hospitals have 195 intensive care beds and 857 adult respirators available to date.

According to the agency, the term confirmed positive case refers to infections whose result has been validated by a PCR (molecular) test. The likely case is one whose disease positive result was obtained by antigen testing. Meanwhile, suspected cases, also known as antibody results, are those that have a positive serological test and no positive molecular or antigen test.

In addition, the agency explained that a death confirmed by 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 has been diagnosed with COVID-19 through an antigen test or whose clinical picture meets the criteria to believe he had COVID-19 but has never undergone molecular or antigen testing to determine the virus. Suspicious death, meanwhile, refers to the death of a person in which a specific antibody is detected in serum, plasma, or through a serological test using their blood.