“Red health alert”: the crisis overwhelms Paraguay and the demonstrations do not cease

PARAGUAY.- The Paraguayan government declared on Tuesday the “Red health alert” due to the sustained increase and record of Covid-19 infections, in a convulsive climate of demonstrations against the administration of President Mario Abdo Benítez for having managed the crisis.

When the emergency was announced, the Ministry of Health pleaded in a statement “We urge the population to be aware of and to avoid situations which may endanger individual and collective health”.

Likewise, he expressed concern at the high degree of overcrowding in various activities and the in accordance with sanitary measures, which could have a negative impact on the health of the population and therefore lead to the health system collapsing.

The authorities called for strict compliance with sanitary measuresHow to properly use the chin strap, covering nose to chin, maintaining physical distance at all times, washing hands properly and keeping environments ventilated. They also urged to avoid crowds, reduce the time and frequency of meetings and meetings, as well as postpone all non-essential activities, while new events are in preparation.

After several months of keeping the pandemic relatively at bay, with a manageable number compared to other countries in the region, the situation has recently reversed rapidly. The Department of Health yesterday reported 1,817 cases, for a total of 169,860 and 3,343 deaths.

According to the Ministry of Health, if the recommendations are not taken into account, in two weeks we will see the overload of hospitals and more deaths, for which they have recommended to public and private institutions, associations, clubs, political parties, media communication and society in general to become aware of the situation in order to avoid a greater impact.

Students, professionals and employees, residents of the urban area without visible political leadership, called for a demonstration for the fifth day in a row, with the slogan “until Marito leaves”, the name under which the 47-year-old president is popularly known..

Protesters accuse him of the lack of supplies to deal with the pandemic and the inability to obtain vaccines against Covid-19. “Those who are mobilizing today are for the most part citizens of the middle class, who rarely go out on the streets. People were fed up with outrageous deals and thefts in the name of the pandemic, ”said opposition Senator Víctor Ríos of the Liberal Party.

Abdo, who ends his five-year term on average, has won the support of dissidents in his Colorado party, led by influential businessman and former president Horacio Cartes, to temporarily block any impeachment demand.

However, to quell the popular fury which escalated into fierce clashes with the police last Friday, Abdo replaced four ministers, including that of health, “in the interests of pacification”.

DPA and AFP agency

THE NATION

More information