Fauci says Redfield’s belief is just ‘an opinion’
As Paraguay’s health care system is facing collapse due to a surge in coronavirus cases, additional restrictive measures will be in place for the Holy Week leading up to Easter and Palm Sunday, authorities have announced.
The new measures will take effect on Saturday and will continue until Sunday, April 4.
As part of the measures, only “minimal and indispensable movements” of citizens will be allowed for the transfer of sick people or for the purchase of food from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.
Short, medium and long-distance public transport buses will not circulate between urban centers and the interior of the country, but buses in the Asuncion metropolitan area will operate normally. Restaurants will be allowed to work only for food deliveries.
Dr. Leticia Pintos, director of the country’s Health Networks and Services, said Friday that intensive care units across the country are at 100% occupancy.
Health Minister Julio Borba said Wednesday that cases in the country have skyrocketed, partly because the Brazilian Manaus variant P.1 is already present in the country. Although just two cases were initially detected, the circulation is already community-based, he said.
Earlier this week, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Carissa Etienne highlighted the increase of cases in Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile.
However, Paraguay’s borders will remain open for now, authorities said Friday, but 13 border control posts have been established.
The Ministry of Sports has announced that the Paraguayan football season will not be suspended, it is already underway without audiences.
Paraguay has recorded a total of at least 202,700 coronavirus cases and 3,910 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the latest numbers released by the health ministry.
