COVID-19 pandemic in Cusco

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
COVID-19 pandemic in Cusco
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationCusco, Peru
First outbreakWuhan, China
Index caseCusco
Arrival dateMarch 13, 2020 (2020-03-13) – present
(4 years and 2 days)
Territories
13 provinces
Government website
Gerencia Regional de Salud Cusco - COVID-19
(in Spanish)

The COVID-19 pandemic in Cuzco is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was reported to have spread to Cusco on 13 March 2020, when a 37-year-old man who had travelled to United States tested positive.[1] The start of the epidemic outbreak in The country, also called "community transmission", was announced on March 17, 2020, while the first death was reported a week later.[2] As time passed, the outbreak spread throughout the department, Paruro being the last province to report its first positive case on May 6, 2020. In the district of Villa Virgen, La Convención Province, a first positive case of contagion by COVID-19 was confirmed on August 24, 2020, becoming the last district of the department to declare the presence of infected persons. The exponential increase in infections, which occurred since the third week of July, positioned Cuzco as the third department with the most cases in Peru.

Timeline

Suspected cases

The first suspected cases of contagion in the department were reported on January 29, when the Regional Health Directorate (DIRESA) Cusco announced the identification of two patients (two Chinese citizens who arrived in the country from the city of Beijing) with suspicious symptoms of COVID -19 at the Regional Hospital of Cusco.[3] Later, on February 4, the tests of the two patients were negative according to the statements of the National Institute of Health (INS).[4]

Another three suspected cases were registered on March 2, when two Cusco citizens from Italy and a French citizen presented symptoms related to the disease. They were immediately isolated in the Regional Hospital of Cusco, where samples for coronavirus were taken.[5][6] The next day, the tests of the three patients, sent to Lima, were negative, according to the health authorities.[7]

On March 9, DIRESA Cusco announced up to four suspected cases of COVID-19. They were two tourists, a Colombian, who was traveling in the United States and Ecuador, and a Frenchman, and two other citizens of Urubamba, (of the latter, no further scope or information is given). The tourists presented respiratory infection and various symptoms compatible with the disease (fever, cough, sore throat and diarrhea). Foreigners remain in isolation until test results are obtained.

Jean Paul Benavente García (Governor of Cusco), in the company of the health authorities of DIRESA Cusco giving a conference after the first positive case of COVID-19 in the department
In the upper image you can see members of the cleaning staff disinfecting streets of Cuzco's historic center and in the lower image, the inauguration of a Villa EsSalud early care for patients COVID-19 in Cuzco.

Responses

State and regional governments

Curfew

New measures applied by department of the country, according to the Government of Peru.
Military wearing his mask while conducting surveillance at the VRAEM during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On January 26, 2021, due to the resurgence of a second wave and a greater incidence in the violation of quarantine, the government once again establishes a series of measures to contain the advance of COVID-19 in the country. According to the new measures adopted, the country's departments would be classified by risk levels according to the number of infections that are registered. The department of Cusco was considered at a very high level, and the measures would be in effect from January 31 to February 14.[8]

On February 11, the government announced an extension of the quarantine, based on a reform of the system in which it has decided to implement measures at the provincial level. In the department of Cuzco, the provinces of La Convención and Canchis rise to the extreme level, while the remaining eleven provinces remain below the very high level. This extension implies that the application deadline is no longer February 14, but February 28. The measures included;[9]

  • Mandatory social immobilization from February 15.
  • The supply centers will only be able to operate until 18:00 UTC-5.
  • Prohibition of consumption in restaurants (allowance of service to delivery).
  • Suspension of celebrations, such as: festivals, patronal festivals, civil activities or meetings of all kinds.
  • The transit of private vehicles is still limited, with the exception of work reasons having obtained a transit pass.

Economic plan

The economic reactivation process in Cusco will consist of 3 phases, announced the Regional Government of Cusco:

Economic reactivation process in Cusco
Sector Proposed investment
Transport and communication S/ 2 477 269 997
Agricultural S/ 455 525 650
Health S/ 380 649 853
Education S/ 219 188 976
Energy and mines S/ 85 958 535
Sanitation S/ 56 345 726
Tourism S/ 29 919 030
Total S/ 3704 857 767

Medical response

Mechanical ventilators

The COVID-19 outbreak in the country caused the health systems of several departments to go through a sanitary collapse and decided to make efforts to obtain mechanical ventilators and other medical supplies.

At the beginning of April, Cusco had 10 mechanical ventilators being expanded to * their capacity.[10][11] At the Antonio Lorena Hospital, for example, during the first week of April the number of ventilators increased from five to ten in one week, said Jean Paul Benavente in an interview with Gestión.[12] At the Quillabamba Hospital, for its part, two mechanical ventilators were implemented due to the accelerated increase in positive cases in the province during the middle of 2020.[13]

Laboratories

During January and February 2020, when the coronavirus was just being studied, the only Peruvian laboratory that could detect COVID-19 was the INS. The first suspected cases reported were ruled out by a result after approximately 24 hours. by an INS certificate, since initially the samples taken in Cuzco had to be sent to Lima for future analysis. It was not until March 18, when the Regional Government of Cusco, through its Facebook account, made official the inauguration of the first laboratory suitable for the discard of COVID-19 in the department. In turn, it was announced that the laboratory would also receive samples from Apurímac, Madre de Dios and Puno.[14] Later, through its website, the INS confirms the existence of three laboratories (one private and two public) that work for the discarding of COVID-19 with molecular tests in the department, including the Integra Medica Peru Clinic, the Adolfo Guevara Velasco National Hospital and the Cusco Regional Hospital.[15]

Testing

On May 19, MINSA delivered 7,850 rapid tests for the detection of COVID-19. Likewise, it also sent more than 2.2 tons of personal protective equipment for later distribution in different health points of the department. Later, on May 21, the Antapaccay mining company would deliver 5,000 rapid tests, an ambulance, and modern COVID-19 patient care equipment, which included multipurpose stretchers, vital function monitors, a multipurpose clinical bed, and a mechanical ventilator, destined for the Yauri Hospital, the main medical center in the province of Espinar. On August 27, the Camisea Consortium delivered more than 3,600 rapid COVID-19 tests, four secretion aspirators and five tents to the Micro Health Network - Camisea.

Vaccination

COVID-19 vaccination in Cusco
Percentage of people with booster of vaccination by province of Cusco Department.
DateFebruary 9, 2021 (2021-02-09)present
(vaccine deployment begins)
February 10, 2021 (2021-02-10)present
(mass vaccination begins)
Location Cusco
CauseCOVID-19 pandemic in Cusco
TargetImmunization against COVID-19
Organised byPeru's Ministry of Health
Participants2,992,999 (total doses admin.)
1,203,434 (at least one dose)
1,092,751 (second dose)
611,233 (first booster)
15,581 (second booster)

Purchase agreements

On February 8, 2021, during a meeting between officials of the regional government and the minister of foreign trade and tourism, they discussed the demand that the department requires for 500,000 vaccines to immunize 250,000 Cuzco residents in the next four months.

Beginning and development of vaccination

On February 9, 2021, the first batch of 1,139 vaccines against COVID-19 arrived in the department of Cuzco. The vaccines would be deployed in three hospital centers; that of Cuzco, Sicuani and Quillabamba. This first batch is reserved for the immunization of the department's health personnel, who belong to the first phase of vaccination in the country.[16] Later, on February 18, a second batch of 6,481 doses of the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine arrived at the Cusco, in order to continue with the vaccination of health personnel in the first line of action.29 According to a report by Ideario, 7% of the department's health personnel refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19 during the first immunization process in the health sector.30 On March 3, it was made public that five doctors and 10 nurses from the Regional Hospital of Cusco, who received the first dose of the Sinopharm BIBP vaccine on February 10, were infected with COVID-19. All patients were also reported to be stable and in isolation at home.

Impacts

Social

As a result of the arrival of the coronavirus in Peru, on March 6, the situation generated a strong collective hysteria among consumers, which is why the alleged shortage of products in multiple supermarkets and grocery stores circulated on the networks. In Cusco, it was not until March 11, when it was reported that thousands of citizens were making purchases of groceries in an impulsive and unbridled manner after the provisions imposed by the Government of Peru.[17]

Education

"Aprendo en casa" (literally, I learn at home) is the distance education strategy used in state schools of the country.
A Cuzco child suffering from difficulties in accessing digital education, in the Mayrasco community.
Schoolchildren without access to virtual classes
(in the departament of Cuzco)[18]
Province Students
La Convención 9 631
Cuzco 6 835
Canchis 2 593
Chumbivilcas 2 485
Quispicanchi 1 790
Urubamba 1 715
Calca 1 680
Anta 1 554
Paucartambo 1 487
Espinar 904
Canas 724
Acomayo 543
Paruro 422
Total 32 363

The loss of classes caused by the postponement forced the ministry to consider distance education by creating the "Aprendo en casa" (Learn at home) program to make up classes.[19] Due to the difficulties derived from the scarcity of resources and the rugged geography of Peru, access to distance education continues to be an impediment to learning for minors in the department. Arturo Ferro Vásquez, Regional Director of Education for Cusco, reported in a statement that around 32,363 students did not have access to remote education in the department during 2020.

Statistics

Maps

According to MINSA

According to GERESA


Cases by provinces

Province Population
(2017)
Ministry of Health (Updt. 2021-01-24) Regional Directorate of Health (Updt. 2021-01-24)[20]
Cases Deaths Cases Deaths
Cuzco 447 588 52 215 844
La Convención 147 148 8 191 116
Canchis 95 774 3 970 95
Quispicanchi 87 430 2 955 73
Espinar 57 582 2 662 26
Urubamba 60 739 2 306 47
Anta 56 206 2 173 55
Calca 63 155 1 467 35
Chumbivilcas 66 410 1 246 14
Paucartambo 42 504 649 4
Paruro 25 567 550 17
Acomayo 22 940 460 14
Canas 32 484 409 15
Other departments Unknown 2 452 70
Total 1 205 527 27 260 589 81 705 1 425

Demographics

Registry of cases and deaths by year and age based on data from the platform "Situation Room COVID-19 Region Cusco" provided by the Regional Health Management of Cusco.

Registry of cases by year and age until March 5, 2021
Age group
(Years)
2020 (2020-11-10)[21] 2021 (2021-03-05) Total
Cases Deaths Cases Deaths Cases Deaths
0-9 1 338 2 267 0 1 605 2
10-19 1 562 1 971 2 2 533 3
20-29 16 750 22 3 791 4 20 541 26
30-59 41 624 339 10 060 150 51 684 484
60+ 8 474 882 2 597 499 11 071 1 387
Total 69 748 1 246 17 686 655 87 434 1 901


See also

References

  1. ^ "Coronavirus en Perú: Primer infectado por Covid-19 en Cusco regresó de los Estados Unidos" [Coronavirus in Peru: First infected by COVID-19 in Cusco returned from the United States]. Gestión (in Spanish). 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Muertos por coronavirus en Perú: las nueve víctimas del COVID-19 al detalle" [Deaths from coronavirus in Peru: the nine victims of COVID-19 in detail]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 26 March 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Cusco: Minsa descarta casos de coronavirus en turistas chinas en Machu Picchu" [Cusco: Minsa rules out cases of coronavirus in Chinese tourists in Machu Picchu]. Perú 21 (in Spanish). 30 January 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  4. ^ "Cusco: MINSA descarta que turistas chinas sean portadoras de coronavirus" [Cusco: MINSA rules out that Chinese tourists are carriers of coronavirus]. CANATUR (in Spanish). 4 February 2020. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  5. ^ "Reportan tres casos sospechosos de coronavirus en Cusco: "Están sin equipos médicos"" [Report three suspected cases of coronavirus in Cusco: "They are without medical equipment"]. Gestión (in Spanish). 2 March 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Diresa Cusco activa plan de contingencia ante tres casos sospechosos de coronavirus" [Diresa Cusco activates contingency plan for three suspected cases of coronavirus]. Diario Correo (in Spanish). 3 March 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Coronavirus: autoridades de salud descartan tres casos sospechosos en Cusco" [Coronavirus: Health authorities rule out three suspected cases in Cusco]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 3 March 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Estas son las nuevas medidas para regiones con riesgo 'muy alto' frente al COVID-19". Andina (in Spanish). 26 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  9. ^ "Amplían cuarentena: mira aquí las provincias donde rige la medida y las restricciones | Infografía". El Comercio (in Spanish). 11 February 2021. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  10. ^ "Reporte regional sobre condiciones e infraestructura de los servicios de salud del Cusco al 11/04/2020" [Regional report on conditions and infrastructure of the health services of Cusco as of 2020/04/11] (PDF). Office of Public Defender of Peru (in Spanish). 11 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Reporte regional sobre condiciones e infraestructura de los servicios de salud del Cusco al 25/04/2020" [Regional report on conditions and infrastructure of the health services of Cusco as of 2020/04/25] (PDF). Office of Public Defender of Peru (in Spanish). 25 April 2020.
  12. ^ "Cusco: Implementan 10 ventiladores mecánicos en Hospital Antonio Lorena" [Cusco: 10 mechanical ventilators are implemented in Hospital Antonio Lorena]. Gestión (in Spanish). 4 April 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  13. ^ "Coronavirus: Cusco acelera entrega de ventiladores mecánicos y equipos en La Convención" [Coronavirus: Cusco speeds up delivery of mechanical fans and equipment at La Convención]. Andina (in Spanish). 22 July 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
  14. ^ "Cusco ya cuenta con laboratorio para descarte del coronavirus" [Cusco already has a laboratory to discard the coronavirus]. Facebook - DIRESA Cusco (in Spanish). 19 March 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  15. ^ "OXIMAP - Mapa de laboratorios de pruebas moleculares (PCR)" [OXIMAP - Map of molecular testing laboratories (PCR)]. OXIMAP, el mapa del oxígeno (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 February 2021.(NB: The data on this site changes daily)
  16. ^ "Cusco recibió primer lote de 1.139 vacunas contra el COVID-19" [Cusco received the first batch of 1,139 vaccines against COVID-19]. El Comercio (in Spanish). 9 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Coronavirus: En Cusco hacen colas para comprar víveres por miedo a desabastecimiento | Vídeo | Fotos" [Coronavirus: In Cusco they queue to buy groceries for fear of shortages | Video | Photos]. La República (in Spanish). 11 March 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  18. ^ "El abandono de las clases de "Aprendo en casa" en Cusco" [The abandonment of the classes of "Aprendo en casa" (Learn at home) in Cusco]. Pulso Regional (in Spanish). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  19. ^ "MINEDU anuncia clases a distancia para escolares durante emergencia por coronavirus: "Aprendo en casa"" [MINEDU announces distance classes for schoolchildren during coronavirus emergency: "Aprendo en casa" (Learn at home)]. Diario Correo (in Spanish). 20 March 2020. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Sala Situacional COVID-19 Año 2020 Información Oficial" [Dashboard COVID-19 2020 Official Information]. DIRESA Cusco (in Spanish). 31 December 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Sala Situacional COVID-19 Región Cusco al 10 de noviembre de 2020" [Dashboard COVID-19 Cusco Region to November 10, 2020] (PDF) (in Spanish). 10 November 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.[permanent dead link]