Estimates of Covid-19 prevalence in Colombia Estimación de la prevalencia del COVID-19 en Colombia

Abstract

Introduction: the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared by the World Health Organization as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Cases have been reported on all continents and the first case in Colombia was confirmed on March 6 2020. Objective: to estimate the measure of frequency of prevalence of COVID-19 cases for each department of Colombia. Methodology: the database including people infected with COVID-19 was used to develop the research, with the information accumulated up to August 31 2020 for the departments of Colombia. Results: by August 31 2020, the highest prevalence of COVID 19 positive cases among Colombia´s departments was as follows: Amazonas 3.41%, Bogotá 2.72%, Atlántico 2.35%, Caquetá 1.47%, and Sucre 1.22%; and the lowest prevalence was found in: Vichada 0.00%, Quindío 10.23%, Casanare 0.24%, Guainía 0.27%, and Cordoba and Caldas 0.29%. Conclusions: There has been a gradual increase in the number of COVID-19 infections in Colombia, throughout year 2020, recording 615.168 positive cases by August 31 2020.  The trend will probably continue to increase until a definitive solution to the COVID-19 pandemic is found.