Bolivia Marks First Nine Days of 2025 with Three COVID-19 Deaths
Bolivia has reported its first COVID-19 fatalities of the year, with three deaths recorded in the initial nine days of 2025. The victims include two elderly individuals in Santa Cruz and another in Cochabamba, highlighting the continued threat of the virus.
On January 7, Santa Cruz’s Departmental Health Service (SEDES) reported the demise of a 78-year-old man and a 96-year-old woman, both with underlying health conditions and unvaccinated. Meanwhile, Cochabamba’s SEDES announced the third death on Tuesday, a 70-year-old man who had traveled from Santa Cruz to visit family. This announcement came alongside a 45-case increase in Cochabamba, marking a 246% rise from the previous week.
Rubén Castillo, the epidemiology chief at Cochabamba’s SEDES, attributed the man’s rapid decline to his underlying health conditions, which aggravated his symptoms. He also stressed the prevalence of the transmissible Ómicron lineage, specifically the JN.1 variant, in the country.
476 Cases and Counting
As of January 7, Bolivia had confirmed a total of 476 COVID-19 cases, with eight out of nine departments witnessing an increase. Viceminister of Promotion, Epidemiological Surveillance, and Traditional Medicine Max Enríquez provided the update.
Vaccine Supply Boost Inbound
In response to the rising caseload, Minister of Health María Renée Castro announced that a shipment of over half a million COVID-19 vaccine doses, secured through President Luis Arce’s negotiations and the COVAX mechanism, will arrive in the country over the weekend. The doses will be distributed among the nine departmental health services.
INLASA’s Diagnostic Capabilities
Furthermore, Institute Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud (INLASA) Director Evelin Fortún revealed that the institution’s Virology Laboratory and Molecular Genetics Research Center (CIGMO) are equipped to diagnose respiratory diseases, processing up to 4,000 samples per day. Results can be expected within 24 hours, ensuring timely care for affected individuals.
