Ecuador, one of the Latin American countries most affected by the Covid-19 disease, announced Friday the extension until April 26 of the confinement and the curfew decreed a month ago to curb the pandemic .
Read also: Ecuador: three times more deaths in 15 days in Guayaquil
" Restrictive measures, isolation measures are maintained for an additional week " until April 26, announced the Minister of the Government (Interior), Maria Paula Romo, at a virtual press conference. With more than 8,500 confirmed cases, including at least 420 dead, since February 29, this small country of 17.5 million inhabitants is hit hard by the new coronavirus, especially in the province of Guayas and its capital Guayaquil, where 68% of the cases are concentrated.
The government estimates that there are also 675 suspicious deaths that could be linked to the new coronavirus. The public health sector has reported receiving some 500 samples to test each day, but has the capacity to process only 350. " Without the results of all the tests, we do not have adequate vision to take decisions. As a result, the whole country remains in red ”, maximum alert, said Maria Paula Romo. The minister added that regarding the resumption of activities, " the decisions will be staggered, will be progressive, will be prudent, and a key factor is the ability to test and have the results ".
In Guayas, deaths, including from ailments other than Covid-19 disease, more than tripled in the first half of April, with 6,703 deaths compared to 2,000 per month on average before the pandemic, said Thursday Jorge Wated, charged by the government with the management of the crisis in this province, where hospitals and funeral services are overwhelmed.