QUITO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ecuador rose to 24,934, with 900 deaths, Interior Minister Maria Paula Romo announced on Thursday.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), between Wednesday and Thursday, 259 new cases and 17 new deaths were registered, with 1,453 deaths that were likely caused by the virus.
Romo added that so far, 69,054 tests for the virus have been administered, of which 27,914 returned negative.
According to the MSP, to date, 1,558 people have recovered from the disease and 151 people have been hospitalized with a reserved prognosis.
In the province of Guayas, the epicenter of the virus in the country, the number of cases increased on Thursday to 10,436, with 380 deaths.
Romo said that in Ecuador, where productive activity will be gradually reactivated beginning May 4, it is necessary to take precautions to avoid a new outbreak, as there is no "zero risk scenario." Enditem
