Uruguay set new record for COVID-19 cases and Lacalle Pou announced suspension of face-to-face classes will continue

Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou announced on Wednesday that Face-to-face classes “at all levels” of public and private education will continue to be suspended until Monday 3 May, due to the worrying increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.

“The measures of March 23 will continue until April 30. And continue on non-presence in education at least until Monday May 3 “, said the president during a press conference at the executive tower in Montevideo.

Lacalle Pou had held its last press conference two weeks ago to announce the the closure of public offices except for essential services, the suspension of public performances, the closure of gymnasiums and free shops at the border, as well as the suspension of social events, in any case until April 12.

“The measures taken on March 23 were aimed at reducing mobility. Apparently, mobility is on a plateau, we ask that, as far as possible, people do not move. We are at the time when the measures should have effects, ”he explained on Wednesday.

Shortly after, the national emergency system (Sinae) announced a new record of positive cases in the country. Specifically, 3,395 infections and 40 deaths were recorded, bringing the total figures to 130,972 and 1,231, respectively.

Uruguay recorded 257 deaths from covid-19 in the first six days of April, a figure higher than the first nine months of the pandemic in the South American country in 2020, which turned on the authorities’ alarm light.

Following sustained growth in the number of deaths, for the first time on April 1, Uruguay recorded more than 30 deaths in one day, with 35 people who lost their lives due to causes associated with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. El 2 (32), el 3 (30) y el 4 (30) se mantuvo esa línea de decesos y en las dos últimas jornadas, el lunes 5 y el martes 6 de abril, batieron nuevamente todos los records con 45 fallecimientos cada day.

The 257 losses recorded in these seven days of April surpass the 181 with which Uruguay closed 2020, since March 13 of the same year, the health emergency was declared due to the detection of the first four positives in the South American country.

These figures, together with the 26,919 active cases, have led to movements by the authorities in recent hours. “We continue to increase the capacity of intensive therapy beds (ICS). We have 933 beds available and the occupancy rate is 74%. There is a potential for 88 additional beds “, warned Lacalle Pou on Wednesday. Currently, 436 people infected with COVID-19 occupy intensive care beds across the country.

The Honorary Scientific Advisory Group (GACH), which advises the government on pandemic management, has been emphasizing the need to reduce mobility for weeks.

Indeed, in their report of February 7, the experts propose reducing the capacity of public transport, meeting only between cohabitants, teleworking or restricting mobility between midnight and 6 a.m. (3 a.m. to 9 a.m. GMT), as measures to be taken. take in the current contagion situation.

Likewise, the GACH on Monday analyzed the P-1 and P-2 variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus recently arrived in the country and asked the government for the greatest possible clarity to report on it.

With information from EFE

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