According to the ministry, most of those infected have arrived late to hospitals for medical attention, complicating their recovery. | Photo: Republica.gt

Guatemala City, April 19 (RHC)-- Guatemalan health authorities warned over the weekend that at least five hospitals are saturated with COVID-19 patients in critical condition, generating a situation of alarm in health services.

The intensive care units (ICU) of the Temporary Hospital of Parque de la Industria, the General San Juan de Dios, the Specialized Hospital of Villa Nueva, the Hospital of Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa and the Hospital of Escuintla, no longer have the capacity to care for people with coronavirus, according to the Ministry of Health of the Central American country.

The Guatemalan health ministry said that most of the infected patients have arrived late to the hospitals for medical attention, complicating their recovery from the disease.  In recent days, the average number of positive cases ranges between 1,500 to 2,000.  Last Friday alone 1,640 people were confirmed infected.

The pandemic situation has sounded the alarm one day after the government decreed a 'State of Prevention' for 15 days to face the advance of the coronavirus.  Health authorities have reiterated that Guatemala is in a third wave of coronavirus infections, so they recommend the population to intensify biosecurity measures.

As of April 16, Guatemala had 212,307 confirmed cases and 7,190 deaths, since the first infected person was detected in the country, on March 13, 2020.