About 3.5 million people have been strictly confined since Monday in Colombia, faced with the “alarming” increase in the cases of Covid-19 when the pandemic could reach its peak in this country in the coming weeks. This strict confinement concerns 2.5 million of the eight million inhabitants of Bogota, which concentrates a third of the more than 154,000 cases of Covid-19 confirmed at national level since March 6. “The disease spreads every day. For more than three days, we have been recording more than 2,000 positive cases " daily, " the mayor of the capital, Claudia Lopez, told reporters. "The speed with which the pandemic is growing in Bogota is alarming", she said. Consequently, until August 23, strict confinement of fourteen days will be imposed in turn by group of neighborhoods of 2.5 million inhabitants.
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The intensive care units in Bogota have reached 90% occupancy and the capital is on red alert. The country's second largest city, Medellin, has started to impose similar restrictions, limiting the mobility of one million of its 2.4 million residents until July 28, according to the city hall. In the districts of Bogota where confinement is reinforced, the police have increased their surveillance and more than 400 soldiers are also controlling the entries and exits of these areas. Residents can only leave their homes to buy food, go to the pharmacy or to an urgent medical appointment. The sale of alcohol will be prohibited during weekends. "We have taken these measures to pass the peak" of contamination, expected for the next few weeks, said the mayor.
According to Claudia Lopez, in recent months, the authorities have tried to postpone this phase, but the "time to confront it" has come. All the inhabitants of Bogota have already undergone strict confinement from March 20 to April 27. Then, under the pressure of the crisis, the government of right-wing President Ivan Duque authorized the resumption of more and more activities, while extending the confinement several times, the last until August 1.
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The government forecasts for 2020 one of the “worst” economic performances in the history of the country, with a decline in activity estimated at 5.5%, according to the Ministry of Finance. In the midst of a health crisis, Ivan Duque also authorized a VAT-free day, scheduled before the pandemic, which brought crowds of customers to the shops. On Twitter, Claudia Lopez attributed the current “epidemiological cost” to this initiative, as well as to sporadic manifestations.
Just over 5,400 people died from the virus in this country of 50 million inhabitants, including 1,123 in Bogota. Colombia is the fifth Latin American country most affected by the pandemic, by number of cases and deaths, after Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Chile.