Chile fails to contain pandemic and enters new quarantine

The coronavirus pandemic seems far from contained in Chile, despite a rapid vaccination process that has made the country an example in the region and in the world.

With hospitals on the edge and a worrying increase in infections, the government has decreed a new quarantine total for the region of Santiago from this Saturday.

The current epidemiological situation in the capital is complex: of the 45,774 active cases nationwide – that is to say those with the capacity to spread SARS-CoV-2-, more than 30,000 are in The capital of the country.

Although Public Health Under-Secretary Paula Daza acknowledged that this is a “very harsh measure” and that the government understands the “negative effects”, she stressed that her decision is based on on the “situation of the beds”, the date of which is taken in 98% in intensive care units (UCI) in the region.

“We are extremely concerned about the critical bed situation, especially now as we move into winter. We know cold days are a relevant factor as people tend to be more indoors than outdoors.” , added the manager.

Criticism of restrictions

On the part of certain sectors of the ruling party, they criticized the measure: in a public statement, the Independent Democratic Union indicated that the quarantines “do not produce the desired effects” and that even evaluate the rejection of an extension of the state of exception to vote at the end of this month.

The decision to confine, as declared to the EFE agency by the president of the Medical College (Colmed) of the metropolitan region, Dr Francisca Crispi, demonstrates “the failure of the Plan step by step (which considers the different phases quarantine and restrictions) in the control of the pandemic ”, both because of its“ lack of sanitary sense and because of its implementation, which has failed to reduce viral circulation ”.

Although some areas of the capital have already been under total containment for more than two months, the ineffectiveness of quarantines – mainly explained by economic and social factors – has become a brake that has shaken the Chilean strategy to contain COVID-19 . .

Hospitals and staff collapsed

Dr Crispi herself announced last Monday that “the health teams are dismantled” and that across the capital region there are 30 intensive therapy beds.

According to Crispi, the situation is that of a “collapse”, both in terms of infrastructure and personnel.

“They are hospitalizing patients in primary care, which is not conditioned to do this task. But also the health staff is exhausted, more and more people leave with medical licenses for mental health problems or illnesses. decompensated, ”the doctor said.

“I think it is extremely difficult to cope with this new increase in cases,” he added.

Not enough vaccination?

So far, in one of the most successful vaccination campaigns in the world, Chile has already inoculated a dose to 11.2 of the 19 million inhabitants, and 58% of the target population – about 15 million people – has already completed the double dose vaccination schedule.

With the increase in the number of people vaccinated, the government of Sebastián Piñera has decided to promote the “Mobility Pass”, a document that can be used by people who already have their complete vaccination program to move around despite the restrictions.

But the measure has been questioned by experts and medical societies.

“It is urgent that we put all the expertise of the country in place in order to generate a new health strategy. We must learn from the mistakes of the past,” said Crispi.

A study published by the government on the effectiveness of the Coronavac vaccine -the Chinese Sinovac laboratory-, with which the vast majority of the population has been inoculated, has shown that it prevents 65.3% of symptomatic cases, warns in a 86 % chance of death from disease and 90.3% of intensive care hospitalizations. But it does not significantly decrease viral circulation.

Sebastián Piñera suspends his tour in Europe

Faced with the increase in coronavirus cases, and as the Santiago metropolitan region prepares for a new quarantine, the president of Chile has decided to suspend the tour in Europe, which he planned to start on June 22.

Piñera had meetings with Pope Francis on his agenda, with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson; the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the French President, Emmanuel Macron, among other authorities.

The trip had sparked criticism due to the country’s health situation, according to the Chilean newspaper The third.

Chilean government spokesman Jaime Bellolio informed this Thursday of the cancellation of the tour, “for health reasons only”.

“For reasons of the evolution of the pandemic, this tour has been postponed. However, we will continue to make progress on the substantive issues, via digital tools and telematic meetings, until the sanitary conditions allow the rescheduling of the tour and the organization of the necessary face-to-face meetings. facing meetings, ”the government later reported.

According to the Chilean Ministry of Health, the country has accumulated 1,453,478 cases and 30,339 deaths. This Friday added 7,972 new cases, the highest number this week, in addition to 133 deaths.

Chile has been living in a state of emergency due to disaster since March 2020, with a curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. (local time) and with borders closed until at least June 30.

Source: EFE

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