The numbers of contagion by covid-19 continue to increase in Bogotá and Antioquia

The Ministry of Health reported, this October 26, 9,167 new cases of coronavirus in Colombia. In the last 24 hours, 40,851 tests were processed, 30,050 are PCR and 10,801 antigens.

The report also indicates that the number of deaths is 194, 40 more than yesterday, October 25. So then today the country reaches a total of 30,348 deaths since the virus reached the national territory.

Colombia reached 1,025,052 infected, of which 68,310 are active cases and 924,044 correspond to positive cases that have already overcome the disease.

In terms of COVID-19 infections by cities and departments of the country, Antioquia and Bogotá continue to lead, followed by Valle del Cauca and Huila.

There are 1,396 conglomerates in the country. The territories are: Amazonas, Antioquia (Ituango), Arauca, Atlántico, Barranquilla, Bogotá, Boyacá, Bolívar, Buenaventura, Caldas, Caquetá, Cartagena, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, Risaralda, San Andrés, Santa Marta, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle, Vaupés, Vichada, Guaviare and Guainía.

The Ministry of Health issued a statement clarifying the difference between the symptoms of influenza and those of covid-19.

Although symptoms can be confused, differentiating them will allow for action. In any case, self-isolation, physical distance, use of face masks, hand washing and cleaning of surfaces is necessary.

Although prevention and self-care measures help us avoid covid-19, in the same way they also allow us to reduce other acute respiratory infections -IRA such as the flu or cold and influenza. However, we are all susceptible to presenting symptoms that it is important to differentiate before going on alert.

“The correct use of a mask, hand washing, physical distancing and avoiding crowds allows reducing the chances of contagion from both Covid-19 and ARIs; and although in both cases we are talking about respiratory infections, we must recognize which are the key symptoms of the new coronavirus, “said José Alejandro Mojica, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

Covid-19 can present mild, moderate or severe and evidence indicates that a dry cough, fever greater than or equal to 38 degrees Celsius with chills and a feeling of suffocation are the most common symptoms. Other less frequent, but also associated with the new coronavirus are a sore throat, headache, loss of smell and taste, these last two symptoms are not present in the common cold or flu or in influenza.

Meanwhile, the most common symptoms for the common cold or flu and influenza are nasal congestion, runny nose, watery eyes, chills, sneezing, feeling tired, sore throat, body aches, cough, and general ill feeling, some People may have vomiting and diarrhea, although this is more common in children than in adults. “Although they are symptoms that may be similar, it is important to differentiate them, in addition to identifying whether the person had contact with someone with a diagnosis of covid-19, this will allow evaluating what infection condition they present,” said Mojica, adding that in any case they should consult the health services through the EPS and self-isolate together with the family nucleus, until having ruled out if it is covid-19.