Uruguay to extend COVID-19 restrictions amid accelerating rise in infections

The President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pouannounced wednesday extension of current measures against Covid-19 until the end of April. These restrictions include the closure of all public offices, the suspension of public performances, the closure of gymnasiums and free shops at the border, as well as the suspension of parties and social events.

Announced on March 23 and initially effective until the 12 of this month, “they will continue until April 30”Uruguay’s president said at a press conference and after meeting with the committee of scientists advising the government on the pandemic.

“Fixing this date, to protect the month of April, as the experts have recommended, is not capricious”, he expressed his opinion and then underlined: “It is assumed that by the end of April, we might start to see the consequences of the vaccination plan.”

Regarding the continuity of the school year, it provided for: “It has been approved to continue the non-presence until Monday May 3 at least”. The gradual recovery was planned after Easter, but without a specific date.

He also called for reduced mobility, but without announcing severe measures that further limit traffic. He then insisted that “There are already rules to avoid crowds and underground parties”, and contrasted it with a farm worker who goes to work at dawn, in keeping with his rejection of the “police state”.

Faithful to the idea of ​​avoiding the application of a mandatory quarantine and calling for the “responsible freedom” of citizens, opposed the imposition of a curfew, as in other countries, including Argentina, at night.

Uruguay closes schools and public offices amid increase in Covid-19 infections

Finally, Lacalle Pou pointed out that “Deaths have increased dramatically.” After making this statement, felt that it is “the moment when the measures applied must take effect”.

Uruguay has now become one of the most infected countries relative to its population of 3.5 million. It recorded a record 3,935 infections in 24 hours and 40 deaths on Wednesday. This week, he also recorded unprecedented death figures on Monday and Tuesday, with 45 deaths per day.

While between March 2020 and December, it represented only 181 deaths, andn the first three months of 2021, it added more than 800 deaths. Also, and until Wednesday, accumulated 126,987 cases and 1,231 deaths due to Covid-19.

Uruguay tops global ranking of Covid-19 infections per million population

Inoculations so far reach approximately 20% of the population receiving the first or second dose of Pfizer and Sinovac vaccines. It is stipulated that at the end of this month, there will be 860,000 vaccinated with a first dose of Sinovac, and at the end of the month, 550,000 fully inoculated.

Finally, the Uruguayan Society of Intensive Medicine (SUMI) reported that there is a total occupancy of 76% of the beds in the intensive care unit, although 48% correspond to patients with covid-19. For his part, the President of Uruguay explained that there are still 933 beds available and 88 more could be added.

JFG / ds