translated from Spanish: Minsal says PCR test positivity is 12% although WHO recommends 5% for deconfining

In a new daily report, Health Minister Enrique Paris stressed that there is a trend towards a decrease in the indicators of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. In this regard, the authority stressed that “we have had figures that are very positive. A decrease of 11% of new cases in the last seven days and 29% in the last 14 days.” The health portfolio holder further stated that the positivity rate of PCR exams is “12%, one of the lowest in recent days.” As for the occupation of UCI beds, Minister Paris said “the rate of occupation of UCI beds nationwide reached an average of 84%. There are 504 places available, so if we have a lap back we are prepared for that.” On the other hand, the Undersecretary of Health, Paula Daza, explained how trade will work in those communes of the country that are in the “Transition” stage under the “Step by Step” plan. At this stage, in the absence of quarantine only during weekends, Daza stated that “all small businesses, SMEs – we are thinking of a hairdresser, a bookstore, a bike-fixing shop – all these shops can open from Monday to Friday in normal hours”, respecting the curfew that begins at 22:00. The health authority added that these businesses must respect all health protocols developed by the Ministry of economy and that are validated by the Ministry of Health. “It is important that each of these places has its protocols and applies them,” he said, such as hygienizing the site, having alcohol gel available, avoiding crowds and having indications for workers. Daza took the opportunity to make a call to download the self-care guide, since “this will make trade clear about the strict protocols it must implement and, by the way, people will be able to know what measures they must respect to minimize the spread of the virus”. Consulted by those businesses that will be able to attend, the Under-Secretary said that “only those shops that are served by people living in a commune that are in the same situation as that commune, that is, a commune that is in transition, in preparation or in initial opening. But they cannot open shops that are served by people living in a quarantined commune, because a quarantined person cannot move to a commune in transition. A worker living in a quarantined commune cannot require him to work in a commune in transition,” emphasized Under-Secretary Daza.It should be noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that there be less than 5% positivity in PCR tests to begin deconfunding, and has also pointed out 6 key aspects that should be met in advance , in order to prevent such measures from triggering a dangerous regrow a slowing. The first step that should be taken before advancing deconfunding, according to WHO, is to have control of transmission, i.e. no uncontrolled and unapsesced outbreaks where they come from, so traceability is necessary. The second is to be able to effectively detect new cases, this implies the need for a large volume of testing. The third is to have a good level in hospitals and residences to control outbreaks and especially reduce risks of contagion to health professionals. Fourth, there should be preventive measures in all workplaces or meeting groups of persons, designed prior to deconfunding. The fifth point is to have a management that allows to restrict the importation of cases and finally the sixth recommendation is that the population has a high level of awareness of the regulations and preventive actions that must be carried out.



Original source in Spanish

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