Coronavirus: Uruguay closes its borders until …

Uruguay is no stranger to the coronavirus pandemic. This Wednesday, after recording the daily death toll (four people died in the last 24 hours), President Luis Lacalle Pou announced the restriction of the entry of persons from abroad.

“With regret, we have taken the decision to suspend entry into the country between December 21 and January 10”, the president said at a press conference. “There are clearly established exceptions, one concerns the transport of goods and the other Uruguayans who have a ticket purchased up to date. This is an exception, it is based on the fact that we already know how many there are approximately and it is not a very large number, ”he added.

In this way, according to researcher Rafael Radi – member of the Honorary Scientific Advisory Group (GACH) which works with the government – the Eastern European country go through the first wave of infections. “We hadn’t had a first wave yet because of all the measures that had been worked out,” Radi said at a press conference.

In addition, he noted that upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations pose “stress to the complex situation that the country is already living. “” We are all sensitive. Over 96% of society is susceptible, the virus has a possible space to stay and become infected. We can only minimize exposure to fight Covid-19, ”he said. Then Radi warned that the health system “is at risk of saturation” at the level of the intensive treatment center.

Other measures

Since the end of November, Uruguay has seen an exponential increase in daily cases, assets and deaths, which forced the executive to advance the announcement New measures.

Besides the restrictions on the entry of people from abroad, changes will be included in the maximum occupancy of buses and shops, and mass meetings.

The president also announced the suspension of all public performances. Teleworking will be implemented in the public administration and attendance will be exceptional. People over 65 will not frequent state offices. On the other hand, it was decided to advance the licensing in public administration. In the case of the private sector, it is “urged” to take similar measures with regard to the public.

As a “recommendation” and “as other countries have done,” Lacalle said, it is suggested establish a maximum of ten people at year-end meetings. In the same vein, the extension of the hours of all businesses, including shopping centers, will be coordinated to avoid crowds.

As, the commercial activity of restaurants, bars, pubs and others may not extend beyond midnight, as announced already on December 1st.

Accompanied by the secretary of the presidency, Álvaro Delgado, and the deputy secretary, Rodrigo Ferrés, the president said that while Uruguay has managed to have “positive figures” compared to other countries so far, it is it is thanks to the behavior of the population.

At the same time, he clarified that now “they have entered another stage” for what they deemed necessary these changes. “Responsible freedom had its moment, today we are calling for a coexistence of solidarity”concludes the president.

Epidemiological situation

As stated by the National Emergency System (Sinae) in its daily report, there are currently 3649 active cases44 of them are in intensive care and none are in intermediate care. Of the total confirmed positive cases, 860 correspond to health personnel; 630 of them have already recovered, 227 are suffering from the disease and three have died.

According to the official tally from Johns Hopkins University, Uruguay is in the orange zone and with its 19 departments (provinces) affected by at least one case.

Since the health emergency was declared in the country, on March 13, with the appearance of the first infected, 528,583 tests have been processed and recorded 10,893 positive cases of Covid-19; of this total, 7,142 have already been recovered.

Coronavirus in prisons

According to the channel Teledoce, in the Punta de Rieles prison, located in Montevideo, there are 24 positive cases and 77 detainees in quarantine.

In the Comcar penitentiary, also located in the country’s capital, there are six positives, five of them isolated and one admitted to the Spanish hospital. In addition, there are three police officers and two positive prison officers, and six police officers and 15 operators in quarantine, the report adds.

Uruguay reported on November 18 the first case of Covid-19 in a prison in the country, with the infection of a prisoner from Unit 4 in Montevideo.