Covid-19 cases in Rio de Janeiro increase by 430% in one week.
Positivity rates and hospitalizations are on the rise, says SES.
Agência Brasil/EBC - Between the first and second weeks of November, the state of Rio de Janeiro presented significant increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19, rising from 4.368 in epidemiological week 44 (October 30 to November 5) to 18.799 in week 45 (November 6 to 12). This represents an increase of 430%.
The information was confirmed today (16) by the State Department of Health (SES). According to the agency, the positivity rate of diagnostic tests also rose in the same period, with antigen tests rising from 25% to 32% and RT-PCR tests rising from 18% to 30%.
Flu-like illness cases treated at Emergency Care Units (UPAs) increased from 573 to 693, a 21% increase. Meanwhile, requests for COVID-19 treatment beds increased from 28 ICUs and 23 wards to 37 ICUs and 46 wards from week 44 to 45. The average number of daily visits jumped from seven to 12.
According to the SES, the average number of requests is still well below that seen during the most severe moments of the pandemic in the state.
"During the last wave caused by the Omicron variant in January and February of this year, the daily average number of bed requests reached 177, including ward and ICU requests. And at the peak of the wave caused by the Gamma variant in March 2021, this daily average reached 422 requests," the SES reported.
According to data from MonitoraCovid-19 of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the seven-day moving average for registered cases in the state of Rio de Janeiro jumped from 650 on November 7th to 2.658 on November 11th. Deaths did not follow the same upward trend, with a moving average below four deaths per day since November 1st.
Vaccination
The State Health Department (SES) reinforces the importance of receiving booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to prevent complications and hospitalizations due to the disease. "People aged 18 and over can now receive their second booster dose, as per the Ministry of Health's guidelines. Adolescents aged 12 to 17 should receive their first booster dose against the disease."
According to the SES Coronavirus panel, among adolescents in the state, coverage is at 90% for the first dose, 74% for the second dose, and only 22% received the booster. Vaccination coverage against COVID-19 increases with age. The exception is the 30-39 age group, which has 77% coverage in the basic schedule.
Among young people aged 18 to 29, 78% received two doses, with the booster rate dropping to 36% for the first dose and only 7% for the second. However, among the elderly aged 70 to 79, 94% completed the basic schedule, 81% received the first booster, and 53% received the second.
Children aged 3 to 11 should receive both doses of the initial schedule, with no booster doses indicated for now. The panel indicates that only 63% of children aged 5 to 11 in the state received the first dose of the vaccine and 43% completed the basic schedule.
Vaccination of babies aged 6 months to 2 years with comorbidities begins tomorrow, with the arrival of the Pfizer pediatric vaccine. "baby".
The guidelines sent by the State Health Department to the 92 municipalities include testing for cases of flu-like symptoms, physical distancing, respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene, use of masks, cleaning and disinfection of environments, and isolation of suspected and confirmed cases.
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