Key Points

The sharp rise in the number of new COVID-19 cases continued in Week 10. The circulation of SARS-CoV-2 intensified across the country following the Carnival holidays. Incidence and positivity rates rose amid a slight increase in testing. The 15–44 age group recorded the highest incidence rate. The effective reproduction number (R_e), calculated from data reported in SI-DEP for samples collected between March 6 and 12, was 1.43 [1.40–1.46], significantly higher than 1, indicating an increase in the epidemic over this seven-day rolling period. At the hospital level, the strain observed was still present in Week 10. The number of emergency department visits for COVID-19 was increasing, as was the number of new hospitalizations. However, a decrease in the number of admissions to critical care was observed in Week 10.