QUITO, Apr 25 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) – The number of cases of COVID-19 in Ecuador has doubled to 22,719, after results from thousands of backlogged tests were obtained, Interior Minister, Maria Paula Romo said.
Romo explained that, to date, 56,513 tests had been administered for COVID-19, of which 22,719 came back positive.
Romo said, the number of those infected grew significantly, due to tests being backlogged, but that, this “does not mean a resurgence of the virus.”
According to Romo, the South American country “already passed the peak (of contagion) in most of the country’s provinces,” although she clarified that, “the virus is going to be around for many months,” so citizens should not lower their guard, when it comes to preventive measures.
The country registered 576 deaths from the virus so far, an increase of 16 deaths in the last 24 hours. And 1,060 deaths potentially caused by COVID-19 have also been reported.
Ecuadorian vice minister of governance and health surveillance, Francisco Xavier Solorzano, said that, the current trend of contagion is the same as before.
“Just because we have an increase in cases between yesterday (Thursday) and today (Friday) does not mean that we have an outbreak, as the new cases are distributed over time, because there was an obstruction” in the processing of cases, he said.
Solorzano added that, Ecuador has multiplied its test processing capacity with the incorporation of new laboratories into the testing system.– NNN-PRENSA LATINA
