Nearly 25 million people are under controlled confinement in Colombia, including in the capital, for a four-day simulation aimed at testing such a device to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The mayor of Bogota, Claudia Lopez, is behind this initiative, in effect from Thursday evening midnight until Monday evening same time. "It is the first time in Colombia, in coordination between the presidency and local elected officials, that nearly 20 million Colombians will be (...) in quarantine simulation ," she told W Radio. To this measure is added the compulsory confinement of the over 70s until May 31 throughout the country, by order of the government.
Besides the capital of seven million inhabitants, the departments of Cundinamarca, where Bogota is located, Meta, Boyaca and Santander (center) also ordered to follow this simulation. Must join Friday evening those of Antioquia and Valle del Cauca, including their capitals Medellin and Cali, second and third cities in the country. Slightly more than half of Colombia's approximately 48 million inhabitants will therefore be confined. "This is the right time, before we have a massive contagion, a major emergency , " added Claudia Lopez.
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Colombia, which has 145 confirmed cases since March 6, without death, has gradually armored itself against the Covid-19 pandemic. President Ivan Duque has already ordered the closure of borders, and the prohibition of international flights from abroad from Monday, in addition to the suspension of courses in public education, events bringing together people, and the closure of bars , as well as discos.
Unlike other countries, it has not instituted a curfew or general containment, although authorities believe it is only a matter of days. Before its entry into force, traffic jams formed on Thursday evening when leaving Bogota. Many have left town for fear of the spread of the new coronavirus in the capital, where the majority of cases have been reported (56).
" (My family) was afraid that I would stay in Bogota, that I would not pay attention and go out onto the street," said Parmenio Vinasco, 83, who took refuge in the family home of a relative in Peñalisa, not far from the capital and who believes that the government has taken too long to "take more drastic measures" against the pandemic.