The active inquiry for the identification of people with acute respiratory infections is one of the main actions taking place in this province today, as part of the fight against the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, causing COVID-19.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- The 439,190 investigations carried out in the communities allowed the detection of 361 people with respiratory symptoms, who received timely attention in their offices of the Doctor and Nurse of the Family. Of these patients, 12 were admitted to hospital units.
Dr. Viviana Gutiérrez, provincial director of Health, told local Radio that ARI surveillance allows stratifying its behavior in the territory. She stressed that today the endemic channel here shows a phase of the ARI epidemic, which implies maintaining the search for patients. Such a situation implies a high risk and the possibility of an increase in cases of COVID-19.
She said that this part of the Cuban geography is maintained with a low incidence of the pandemic. Until today with four confirmed, 55 suspects admitted to the centers set up for that purpose, and 163 contacts of those possible patients also isolated in different facilities.
Although the local strategy has shown effectiveness, it is necessary to take extreme measures. It is a disease that often occurs without symptoms and the contacts of those travelers who arrived in the province before March 24 are still in the communities, the date on which it was determined to isolate them from the very arrival in the country.
Regarding the availability of beds in-hospital care, Gutiérrez stated that there are 525 available for severe acute respiratory diseases and cases of COVID-19, as well as the necessary ventilatory positions, mainly in the Ernesto Guevara hospital, the Mártires de Las Tunas pediatric, and Guillermo Domínguez, in Puerto Padre.
Likewise, the isolation centers - for suspects, contacts and travelers - have beds for timely assistance. Dr. Gutiérrez urged to stay informed through local and national media. Now, as Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said, the best vaccine against COVID-19 is discipline, cooperation, and solidarity.
