Ecuador recommends face mask use due to fresh Pirola variant spread

Quito, Dec 25 (Prensa Latina) Quito´s Health Secretariat highly recommended the use of masks for people with respiratory symptoms due to a fresh coronavirus spread of new Pirola variant.

December 25, 2023
12:17

According to the health institution, there has been a steady surge in Covid-19 case number since past November, among the most affected are the elderly and the working-age population (29 to 39 years of age).

On December 18, Ecuador´s Public Health Ministry confirmed a fresh spread of the BA.2.86 variant, known as Pirola.

Although it is considered of global concern by the World Health Organization (WHO), local health authorities assured that it is not a greater risk of transmissibility for the population.

Ecuador becomes the fourth country in the region to report the presence of Pirola, after Brazil, Peru and Chile.

Authorities urged population to keep preventive measures, such as vaccination against Covid-19 and influenza, avoiding crowds, hand-washing, among others.

pll/mem/avr