Puerto Rico Reaches 4,000 COVID Deaths Since the Pandemic Began

Experts said that this figure could have been even worse if the measures that have been in place during these two years had not been taken.

Puerto Rico has exceeded 4,000 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began on the island in mid-March 2020.

The local Health Department made the announcement on Friday when an additional 14 deaths were reported.

Last January is the month with the most reported deaths, with a total of 602, due to the omicron variant.

Experts said that this figure could have been even worse if the measures that have been in place during these two years had not been taken.

“It is sad, because of those 4,000 deaths, the majority are of people 60 years of age or older. This began to be seen from the beginning of the pandemic, which has disproportionately affected the oldest population in Puerto Rico.” Dr. Marcos López Casillas told El Nuevo Día.

According to data from the Health Department, deaths in the pediatric population do not reach 10.

Since mid-December, Puerto Rico has dealt with a dramatic rise in cases, reaching historical figures. The positivity rate exceeded 27%. It is currently at 12.1%. Hospitalizations also continue to decline and there are currently 231 people hospitalized.

The island led the vaccination efforts in the US. Local authorities continue to emphasize the importance of getting the booster shot. As of February 8, 48.2% of people eligible to receive a booster dose have not yet received it.