Long lines for covid-19 swab tests continued from early morning throughout the weekend as concerns grow  about the new  omicron variant leading  to the fact that in the first epidemiological week of 2022 (January 2 to 8) they carried  127, 888 tests.

Data, from the epidemiology reports of the Ministry of Health (Minsa),  reveal that during the first week of January 24,441 cases were confirmed, 19.11% positivity.

Given the high demand for tests, the Ministry assures that they have enough to supply it and that the Medical Services Provision Directorate is preparing a new acquisition: approximately 300,000 n tests by immunofluorescence and 100,000 antigen tests by immunochromatography.

The epidemiology reports of the Ministry show that there were four days in which more than 20,000 tests were carried out. Only on January 8, 23,789 were made,  with 20.2% positivity.

The Ministry confirmed that the swab centers and health regions of the country have sufficient diagnostic tests to meet the current demand of people.

Currently, Minsa has 40 swabbing centers in the country, and it is expected to open about 14 more in the next few days.

The pediatrician, infectologist and clinical researcher Xavier Sáez-Llorens specified that with the Omicron variant the person can experience symptoms earlier —2-4 days after infection—, so it is better to perform the test on day 3-4 and repeat it in case of strong suspicion (intimate contact with a case of Covid-19 or presence of suggestive symptoms).

Sáez-Llorens stated that the country is going to have great transmissibility because the virus replicates in the upper airways such as the nose, pharynx and trachea.

Given this scenario, he recommended avoiding mass activities (fairs, sporting and musical events).