• Live
    • Audio Only
  • google plus
  • facebook
  • twitter
News > Peru

Peru: Lima Runs Out of ICU Beds for COVID-19 Patients

  • A group of people stays overnight to buy oxygen tanks, Callao, Peru, Jan. 25, 2021.

    A group of people stays overnight to buy oxygen tanks, Callao, Peru, Jan. 25, 2021. | Photo: Twitter/ @peru21noticias

Published 25 January 2021
Opinion

Sixteen departments are in a critical situation because of a lack of adequate health facilities and personnel.

Peru's Ombudsman's Office warned of a pressing health situation in the cities of Lima and Callao due to the lack of intensive care unit (ICU) beds.

RELATED: 

The Brazilian COVID-19 Strain Might Be Present in Peru

On Sunday, Health Ministry (MINSA) reported that there were only 107 remaining ICU beds across the country. In the Lima region alone, only 8 of 934 beds were available in health institutions.

MINSA officials also noted that 1,758 ICU beds were occupied by COVID-19 patients with serious health conditions, while there was only 1 vacant bed in Callao.

Huancavelica, Tumbes, Ucayali, Ancash, Tacna, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Junin, and Huanuco departments no longer have ICU beds. 

The Medical College of Peru (CMP) Dean Miguel Palacios said the new COVID-19 wave is "almost uncontrollable", and has devastated the health system.

A curfew was imposed in Lima between 9 pm and 4 am to halt the spread of the virus and new restrictions on private vehicle traffic are set to be observed on weekends. 

Health authorities expect the arrival of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in the coming days to launch a national vaccination campaign whose priority will be health personnel.

As of Monday morning, Peru had reported 1,099,013 COVID-19 cases and 39,777 deaths.

Comment
0
Comments
Post with no comments.