SANTIAGO – Chile’s Health Minister Jaime Mañalich has called for “extraordinary reinforcement” as the South American country reported 81 new deaths from COVID-19 infection on Thursday.
Of these deaths, 31 correspond to the new criterion, which counts patients who underwent the PCR test, but the result was not available. The total number of deaths is 1,356.
Yesterday, Chile confirmed 87 deaths from the virus, the largest single-day spike since the outbreak began more than two months ago.
Latest figures show the authorities registered 4,664 new cases of coronavirus, of which 4,172 correspond to symptomatic patients and 492 are asymptomatic. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country is 118,292.
There are 21,305 active cases in the national territory, and 323 mechanical ventilators available to be used for coronavirus patients.
The increase in cases and deaths prompted authorities to extend a quarantine in 40 communes, including Santiago, for a fourth week, with the exception of Lonquimay commune of the Region of La Araucanía that will cease to be in confinement next Friday 5 June at 10:00 p.m.
Chile has one of the highest totals for coronavirus cases in Latin America.
