Covid-19: Argentina reports 1,849 new cases and 57 deaths (September 24)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Argentina reported this Friday 1,849 new cases of covid-19, bringing the total number of positives to 5,248,847, while deaths rose to 114,828 after 57 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

The figures mark a rise compared to the positives reported last Thursday when 1,733 new cases were registered.

Argentina registered a daily record number of infections on May 27, when 41,080 cases were reported, while the highest number of deaths in a single day was verified on June 22, with 792 deaths.

According to the daily report of the Ministry of Health, there are 5.1 million people who have been infected and have already been discharged, while the number of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of covid-19 who remain in intensive care units was 1,271 on Friday, well below the peak of 7,969 on June 14.

The percentage of bed occupancy in intensive care units for all pathologies is 37.7% at the national level and 41.6% if only Buenos Aires and its periphery are considered.

So far, 23.5 million tests have been performed in Argentina to detect the virus, of which 51,465 were performed this Thursday.

Argentina experienced an accelerated increase in Covid-19 cases in April and May, with a high level of occupancy of beds in the ICUs. However, the upward curve of positives began to ease in June after applying new sanitary restrictions.

According to official sources, Argentina has recorded 16 consecutive weeks of decreases in daily cases and 14 straight weeks of reductions in mortality, and the number of patients admitted to intensive care for covid-19.

Given the improvement in the epidemiological situation, last Tuesday, the government of Alberto Fernandez announced new relaxations to the sanitary restrictions, including an increase in the capacity in stores and public shows and the gradual opening of the borders to allow the entry of all foreigners as from next November.

PROGRESS IN VACCINATION

With some 45 million inhabitants, the country continues its vaccination campaign against the coronavirus started at the end of last December.

According to official data released this Friday, 50.3 million doses have been applied so far.

29.2 million people received the first dose of the vaccine, while 21 million people have already been inoculated with the second dose.