El Salvador prepares to combat new variant of COVID

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — Despite the fact that El Salvador is experiencing a sustainable reduction in COVID-19 infections and is already applying the fourth dose of the vaccine to prevent serious cases, authorities warned on Tuesday about the imminent entry of new variants.

The Minister of Health, Francisco Alabi, said that there is an increase in cases in Asian countries attributed to the circulation of the BA.2 subvariant of omicron and the deltacron hybrid and warned that, due to the mobilization of people between countries, they will arrive in El Salvador and cause a new rise in cases.

“It is estimated that in three or four weeks, according to mathematical models, we will be experiencing the increase (in infections) due to BA.2,” he warned.

On November 17, 2021, El Salvador eliminated health requirements for negative COVID-19 testing and vaccination record to enter the country.

Alabi stated that the best protection against the disease is vaccination and reiterated the call for the population to apply the fourth dose. However, the answer was not what was expected.

In the four days since the fourth dose began, only 2,362 Salvadorans and one foreigner have received it, according to official figures.

The minister said that new daily cases have registered a considerable drop, going from 920 when the presence of the omicron variant was confirmed to 110 and that only 50 people receive care at the El Salvador Hospital, which only assists patients with COVID-19.

But he stressed that, in the face of the imminent increase in infections, the government is prioritizing the protection of older adults and vulnerable people with diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and other chronic ailments. For this reason, vaccination with the fourth dose has been started in centers for older adults.

Since Friday, El Salvador applies the fourth dose to everyone over 12 years of age and to foreigners regardless of their immigration status.