Chile confirms 61,857 cases of COVID-19, 630 deaths

Health workers transport a COVID-19 patient at San Jose Hospital in Santiago, Chile, May 20, 2020. (Photo by Jorge Villegas/Xinhua)

Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich said Friday at a press conference that asymptomatic patients represent about 10 percent of daily cases in the country.

SANTIAGO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chile has registered 61,857 cases of COVID-19 and 630 related deaths since the outbreak was first detected in the South American country, the Ministry of Health reported on Friday.

A total of 4,276 new cases and 41 more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, 85 percent of which were registered in the Santiago Metropolitan Region.

Of the new confirmed cases, 3,863 people presented symptoms while 413 were asymptomatic. Chilean Health Minister Jaime Manalich said Friday at a press conference that asymptomatic patients represent about 10 percent of daily cases in the country.

Deputy Minister of Health Arturo Zuniga said that currently, 850 patients are on ventilators, with 159 of them in critical condition. According to authorities, the country has another 346 ventilators available to the public and private health networks and is working to increase the number of available beds and ventilators.

In the capital city of Santiago, a total quarantine will be in force until May 29, affecting around 7 million people. The country, currently under a state of emergency, has closed its borders and suspended all classes as well as non-essential businesses. ■