QUITO, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador has managed to bend the curve of novel coronavirus infections nearly eight months since the onset of the outbreak in the South American country, Public Health Minister Juan Carlos Zevallos said Monday.

The infection rate is undoubtedly decreasing, Zevallos said in an interview with local television.

The country's main cities have the largest outbreaks, including the capital Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca, because it is much more difficult to control the spread in heavily populated areas, he said.

However, "nationwide cases are declining, that is the reality," said the minister, noting a drop in public hospital occupancy.

Still, COVID-19 patients account for 63 percent occupancy of ICU beds and 30 percent occupancy of general hospital beds, he said.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, Ecuador registered 134 new cases of COVID-19 infection and seven deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the total caseload to 153,423 and the death toll to 8,106. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)