COVID 19's Second Wave
2021 began for Colombia with the palpable evidence of the second peak of the pandemic. A total of 6,002 people have died from this cause since December 15th in the midst of the Christmas and New Year's celebrations. More than 2,000 of them so far in January, both by date of death and with data up to January 9th. The figures reported by the health authorities are increasingly similar to what the country experienced between July and August, when covid-19 reached its most critical point so far.
The arithmetic formula in the pandemic is clear: more cases equals more patients who can progress to critical condition. And that is evidenced by the surge in intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy seen in the country since December 3rd. On that day, 52.84 percent of these beds were full, and the most recent data available (January 8th) indicates that the percentage was 68.29. In other words, in just over a month the occupancy of these services grew by 15 points.
All of this, of course, was marked by the most serious patients in covid-19, which in that period went from 2,765 to 5,095, for an increase of about 85 percent. At the same time, the number of critically illed patients from other pathologies or causes who were in these services decreased from 3,202 to 2,850, a drop of 10 percent.
These holidays for many people are dates of celebration and numerous meetings however this year everything had to change a little. For what was once a new year with the whole family this year was only with mom, dad and siblings ,this is a decision we had to take to care for our relatives from some misfortune. Although many of us were aware of the situation and preferred this year to save the holidays and spend a different December others did not do the same. Numerous clandestine parties were found around the country by irresponsible people who do not understand the magnitude of this virus and what it can cause.The authorities expected that after this month of December the infected would be more and many mayors took the necessary decisions as were curfews in some cities of the country.
By: Sofía Ranauro and Nathalie Salas, Step 10
