The health authorities stated that the population complies with the use of nasobuco and in various parts of the cities there are lines of people who come to the nasal diagnosis. | Photo: Prensa Latina

La Paz, August 9 (RHC)-- Bolivia's Ministry of Health and Sports reported Monday a 21 percent reduction in COVID-19 infections in the nation, evidence of a de-escalation of the fifth wave of the pandemic.

In this regard, the national director of Epidemiology, Freddy Armijo, said that of the nine departments, eight are in reduction of positives and only Oruro, maintains an increase of four percentage points.

"Despite the drastic increase in cases, the case fatality rate of this fifth wave is by far the lowest of the entire pandemic, with a 0.1 percent fatality rate, which compared to the 6.2 percent of the first wave, the 2.7 percent of the second and third waves and the 0.7 percent of the fourth wave makes a big difference," said the health authority.

It also added that as of August 6, at least 73.6 percent of people over 18 years of age had received the first dose of the anticovid vaccine, while 63.2 percent had received the second dose.

Likewise, the entity specified that 51.9 percent of people between five and 17 years of age received the first application of the immunogen, while only 38.4 received the second dose.

"If we are talking about the vaccination of the population aged 18 and over, we are not far from achieving optimal coverage, but where we must make a supreme effort is with the school population," the agency said.