COVID-19 Pandemic: Venezuela Imposes Quarantine on 7 States ¶
March 15, 2020 - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered a collective quarantine in seven states, including the capital Caracas, in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Maduro announced the measure in a television address, stating that the quarantine is 'the only way' to prevent the new coronavirus from spreading. The quarantine will be in effect from early Monday and will affect over six million people in Caracas alone.
Food distribution, health services, transport, and security will be exempt from the quarantine. Maduro emphasized the need for 'great social discipline' and 'great self-control' from the public to contain the spread of the virus.
The move comes as Latin America steps up its response to the pandemic. Peru has declared a state of emergency and confinement of its population, enforced by security forces, along with the complete closure of the country's borders. Argentina and Colombia have also announced new travel restrictions, while El Salvador has declared a state of emergency.
Other countries in the region have also taken measures to combat the spread of the virus. Chile has suspended school classes and barred cruise ships from its ports, while Uruguay has suspended the arrival of flights from Europe. Costa Rica has ordered the closure of all bars, casinos, and nightclubs for one month.
As of Sunday, there were over 550 reported cases of COVID-19 in Latin America, with seven deaths, including the first in Guatemala.
