Source:
http://spanish.xinhuanet.com/2020-07/16/c_139216598.htm
Bolivia reaches 52,218 cases of COVID-19 amid the dispute over the use of chlorine dioxide
Updated 2020-07-16 10:37:50 | Spanish. xinhuanet. com
LA PAZ, July 15 (Xinhua) - In more than four months, Bolivia reached 52,218 COVID-19 infections on Wednesday amid controversy over the legal use of chlorine dioxide to combat the pandemic of the new virus.
The nightly report of each day of the Ministry of Health indicates that, in addition to the high peaks of contagion of new cases of coronavirus, the increase in deaths is recorded with a cumulative of 1,942.
It stands out the 16,357 people who beat the virus, which represents 31 percent, a considerable number compared to infections.
In the last week, not only the overflow of figures, but the collapse in hospitals, cemeteries that has forced the interim government of Bolivia to announce the intervention of private clinics for the care of patients with COVID-19, were evidenced.
The approval in the Senate of the bill of the legal use of chlorine dioxide to combat COVID-19 in Bolivia, unleashed this Wednesday a hard controversy between the Executive, Legislative and specialists, amid the uncontrollable overflow of those infected with the new virus that exceeded 52,218 cases to date.
The experts of the National Scientific Committee COVID-19 of the Ministry of Health warn of consequences for appealing to this compound and asked to make an in-depth analysis to determine its application.
Despite the fact that the Ministry of Health prohibited the use of this product, several governorates such as Chuquisaca (south), La Paz (west), Oruro (west) and Cochabamba (center), in addition, the Senate approved measures for the application of this compound .
Because the pandemic spreads throughout the national territory and affects more than 52,000 Bolivians, people are beginning to look for different options to treat COVID-19, despite the fact that the compounds are not internationally endorsed or their effectiveness has not been proven.
Initially, ivermectin was on the list of essential and authorized drugs in Bolivia so that it can be used in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.
Then in late May, the Ministry of Health began treating some patients with coronavirus with 'hyperimmune' blood plasma, obtained from those infected with the virus that generated antibodies and managed to recover.
Now chlorine dioxide came into debate. The specialist and researcher, Patricia Callispieri, maintained that "its effectiveness (of chlorine dioxide) is becoming more and more evident in every corner of Bolivia."
According to the president of the Bolivian Society of Critical Medicine and Intensive Care Adri?n ?vila, the use of this product can cause side effects on people's health and suggested that the population avoid its use.
The president of the La Paz Medical College, Luis Larrea, described the attitude of the parliamentarians for issuing norms without scientific support as "aberration".
As they engage in debate over the use of certain drugs, the pandemic continues to plague mainly four Bolivian regions in the nine departments.
