TODAY NICARAGUA – The Observatorio Ciudadano of Nicaragua reported this Saturday, November 7, that the number of deaths related to COVID-19 reached 2,786 accumulated this week since the first case was reported last March.
According to the Observatorio, made up of doctors and volunteers who register cases of COVID-19, the number of people suspected of having contracted the disease in Nicaragua rose to 10,979.
The Observatorio data remained above the records of the Ministry of Health (Minsa) which last Thursday reported the number of COVID-19 associated deaths was 157, and the number of those infected by the pandemic at 6,591.
Doctors from the different Nicaraguan medical associations endorse the Observatorio data, and have insisted that the Government of President Daniel Ortega provide the “real data” of the pandemic.
The Observatorio also reported that until last day 4, “816 health workers have been reported with associated or presumptive symptoms of COVID-19”.
A total of 108 health workers have died with symptoms similar to the pandemic in Nicaragua, from doctors to orderlies, including nurses, aides, among others, according to the Observatorio.
Likewise, the group of doctors and volunteers indicated that since the onset of the pandemic, at least 2,539 “irregularities” have been detected in its management, including the prohibition of the use of masks, the lack of information or mistreatment of patients.
Among the anomalies of the last week, he highlighted “the absence of preventive measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19 during the care of people affected by Hurricane Eta, and political proselytism of health personnel in response to the climate emergency.”
In this way, the Observatorio made reference to the agglomeration of refugees in schools and churches, where there was no social distancing, no masks, alcohol, or water were offered for hand washing, according to complaints from the victims.
The Observatorio warned that, as a result of the Eta rains, “the risks for the development of infectious diseases such as covid-19, but also other respiratory viral infections, such as malaria, dengue and leptospirosis, have increased”, which is why it called the authorities to “guarantee the necessary measures to prevent contagion.”
Nicaragua has been characterized by not establishing restrictions to prevent the spread of the pandemic, applying minimal social prevention measures, and promoting agglomerations, as part of what is called a “singular strategy.”
Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have reiterated their concern about the management of the pandemic in Nicaragua.
Article originally appeared on Today Nicaragua and is republished here with permission.
