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

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

According to the agency, of the 29 deaths, 27 occurred so far in January, 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 man from the Bayamón Region

– 66-year-old man from the Bayamón Region

– 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

– 80-year-old woman from the Bayamón Region

– 65-year-old man from the Bayamón Region

– Man of 73 years of the Region of Arecibo

– 60-year-old man from the Arecibo Region

– 85-year-old man from the Arecibo Region

– 41-year-old woman from the Metro Region

– 53-year-old man from the Metro Region

– 33-year-old man 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 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

– 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 document is issued will be reflected in subsequent reports,” Health warned in a press release.

Faced with the increase in 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 lives because of this pandemic. I stand in solidarity with all Puerto Rican families who have lost their loved ones. What we have faced has been very hard and we cannot lower our guard. We cannot forget that the virus is still among us. We must continue to use the mask, distancing and hand washing to prevent further infections“, Mellado insisted in written statements.

“We must avoid parties and gatherings that exceed the family nucleus. The pandemic is not over. The use of a mask must continue as long as the virus remains active. We are already monitoring for possible virus variants and ordering reagents to begin sequencing and establishing genomic surveillance. In the meantime we sent samples to the CDC to know the evolution of viruses so far“The official said.

On the other hand, dependence 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 increased to 82,990, but was adjusted after adding up to 136 cases prior to January 6, 2021. In addition, three duplicate cases were subtracted.

They also adjusted the total probable cases, which is today 6,292, to subtract 33 cases that had a positive molecular test and add 30 cases with a date prior to January 6, 2021.

They also adjusted the total number of suspicious cases, which stands at 63,594, after subtracting 69 cases that had a positive molecular test and five cases that had a positive antigen test. Likewise, they added 81 cases prior to January 6, 2021 and three duplicate cases were subtracted in this category.

In the meantime, the number of patients hospitalized for the virus stood at 341, of whom 56 are confined in an Intensive Care Unit and 53 are connected to a respirator. A minor is also in intensive care due to the disease.

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

Depending on the dependence, the confirmed positive case term refers to the contagions the result of which was validated by a PCR (molecular) test. The likely case is that the positive result to the disease was obtained by antigen testing. Meanwhile, suspicious cases, also known as antibody results, are those that tested positive for serology, and do not have a positive molecular or antigen test.

In addition, the agency explained a death confirmed by COVID-19 corresponds to the death of a person with one or more positive molecular tests. The 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 for believing that he or she was suffering from COVID-19, but never had a molecular or antigen testing 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.