The Guayaquil COE toughens measures due to the increase in covid-19 cases; ICUs are 95%

It is an alert for Guayaquil . Mayor Cynthia Viteri announced that starting this Wednesday, November 4, 2020, capacity will be reduced , control measures are retaken and massive events for Christmas and New Year’s Eve are prohibited . The reason is the increase in deaths and infections from covid-19.

The Guayaquil COE toughens measures due to the increase in covid-19 cases; ICUs are 95%

Since May mortality dropped drastically in the canton. Until September the statistics revealed zero deaths above the normal average. But in the last 28 days, on average, six people have died from coronavirus . Only yesterday, November 3, there were eight deaths .

“Human beings, all of us, have become silent transmitters of disease . If you are near a person without a mask, it is very likely that that person is a transmitter without symptoms and that they can infect you and even kill you, ”said Viteri.

The rate of positive cases, confirmed by PCR tests, went from 9.51 to 12.45 per 10,000 inhabitants. While the contagion rate went from 1.2 to 1.36. “Every person at this time who has covid can

The authorities denied that it was a rebound or a second wave of the disease. However, they explained that it is a sustained increase that they try to control. This, mainly, due to the increase in occupancy in the Intensive Care Units (ICU). Until last week it was 85% and now it is 95%.

“This means, gentlemen, that if they get sick they will not have ICU beds to save their lives. Whether or not they have money, there are no ICU beds available, ”Viteri emphasized.

To contain the increase in cases, the Guayaquil COE ordered:

-The prohibition of the sale of alcoholic beverages for 24 hours, from Thursday to Sunday and on holidays.

– Hotels and event rooms can only receive 60 people; opening hours are reduced until 22:00.

-Thematic activations are prohibited in shopping centers and massive events are suspended for Christmas and New Years .

– Shops and toy stores may operate with a capacity of 50%.

– Parks and boardwalks will be closed on December 24, 25 and 31, 2020 and January 1, 2021. The capacity of restaurants and bars is also reduced from 75 to 50%.

Carlos Farhat, epidemiologist and health coordinator of the Municipality, assured that one of the probable causes of this sustained increase is related to the relaxation of biosafety measures during the holiday of last October 9. Regarding the ICU wards, he said that if the number of patients increases, the spaces could be expanded, but that is something that we want to avoid.

https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/restriccion-bebidas-alcoholicas-guayaquil-covid19.ht