RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Chile on Friday, January 22nd, reported 4,956 new daily cases of novel coronavirus infection, the highest figure since infections peaked in June, bringing the total caseload to 690,066.
According to the Ministry of Health, in the same 24 hours, 84 more people died from causes associated with COVID-19, raising the death toll to 17,786.
Some 645,035 patients have recovered from the disease, while 26,889 are in the active stage.
“Citizens must understand that although great efforts are being made to make more beds available, it is necessary to avoid needing one, so it is essential that the population continue to take care of itself,” Chilean Health Minister Enrique Paris said.
“Millions” of Chileans “do comply” with social distancing guidelines, he said, urging the rest “to follow the example of that vast majority.”
Health authorities also announced that 54,458 people had received the first of two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, while 8,364 had received both the first and second doses, as part of a national vaccination campaign.