This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
Bolivian Economy Minister Contracts COVID-19 ¶
July 13, 2020
Bolivia's economy minister, Oscar Ortiz, has become the fourth cabinet member to contract COVID-19, following in the footsteps of the ministers of health and mining, as well as the interim president's chief of staff.
Ortiz, who was appointed economy minister just days ago, released a video statement in which he revealed that doctors had admitted him to the hospital to monitor his symptoms.
Interim President Jeanine Anez, who has been in quarantine since announcing her positive test on Thursday, remains asymptomatic, according to her doctor.
Anez took to Twitter to wish Ortiz a speedy recovery, saying, "I send all my support to @OscarOrtizA."
Ortiz is not the only high-ranking Bolivian authority to contract the virus; the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the president of the country's central bank have also tested positive.
The minister of justice recently revealed that he had contracted COVID-19 "a while ago."
Bolivia has reported 47,200 cases of COVID-19 and 1,754 deaths, with a population of 11 million people.
