Ecuador begins the second month of isolation with 10,128 infected and 507 deaths from COVID-19

In addition, 1,150 people were discharged from hospital.

This week begins the second month that Ecuador complies with an isolation due to the spread of COVID-19. The Government Minister, María Paula Romo, reported that as of April 20, 2020, 10,128 have been infected and 507 have died from this pandemic. Additionally, there are 826 people who probably died from the virus.

She explained that of the 32,453 samples taken in the territory, 9,732 are discarded cases. While, of the total of infected, 8,091 are in home isolation, 256 hospitalized and 124 with reserved prognosis. In addition, 1,150 people were discharged from hospital.

The minister reported that there is an increase of 1,400 data, due to the processing of evidence, but, she said, there is still dammed evidence.

The Deputy Minister of Health, Javier Solórzano, reported that they hope to achieve in the next few days the full capacity of PCR tests processing of the new team of the National Institute of Public Health Research (INSPI).

He announced that they will send the missing tests to a laboratory in Santa Elena, which has more processing capacity than INSPI. “This week we will have a significant reduction in the gap between samples taken and processed,” he said.

The vice minister indicated that they are also applying rapid tests to detect outbreaks of contagion with probability samples, starting with Guayaquil and, later, they will apply them in Quito to find out the risk groups and asymptomatic carriers.

The Government Minister also mentioned that there is a reduction in the number of hours (22% less) than people, confirmed with COVID-19, circulate in the cities, despite the fact that it has a restriction. Days ago, the President of Ecuador, Lenín Moreno, reported that nearly 40% of infected Quiteños and Guayaquil residents are circulating.

In addition, it indicated that more than 21 thousand calls that entered the ECU911, is to control crowds or massive concentration of people, while more than 42 thousand calls have been to alert the breach of the curfew.