Paraguay prepares to enter the second phase of the "smart quarantine"

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A health worker takes a person's temperature at a terminal in Asunción (Norberto Duarte / AFP / Getty Images).

(CNN Spanish) - Paraguay is completing the first phase of the so-called “smart quarantine” that began on May 4, and next Monday, May 25, it is preparing to enter the second phase. According to the health authorities, this implies a period of greater flexibility of activities until June 15, when a balance will be made again before entering another stage.

The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare announced that the experts are evaluating the results of the first phase of the quarantine and on Friday they will announce the new measures to start the second phase from next week.

The ministry's deputy minister for Comprehensive Health Care, Juan Carlos Portillo, stated that, with the favorable results observed, it can be anticipated that there would be no major problems for the transition to the second phase. It even analyzes the possibility of incorporating activities from some sectors that were planned for the third phase in the initial planning, but with some adjustments.

“It is not a matter of skipping a phase, but rather bringing that set of activities and adapting them to the characteristics and concepts of phase two, and allowing the reincorporation of more diverse sectors. It is a way to contribute to economic recovery. The idea is to gradually expand, "said the health authority.

Adriana Amarilla, director of Health Promotion, explained to the press that, for example, shops in general and hairdressers will already be able to provide their services to the public under strict security protocols, whenever the Government authorizes it after the final review this Friday.

The Minister of Health, Julio Mazzoleni, has already announced that the "intelligent quarantine" is giving positive results and at the moment there is "a low community circulation of the virus".

Paraguay registers 829 infected with coronavirus and 11 deceased, according to the report of this Tuesday of the Ministry of Health. Most of the confirmed cases are imported, according to official data.

This Tuesday, President Mario Abdo Benítez participated virtually as a special guest, along with four other presidents, in the closing ceremony of the 73rd edition of the Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Abdo Benítez referred to the “drastic and high-impact” measures that his government should have adopted in the face of the first cases of covid-19 in the country.

“After the second positive case registered in the country, we made a decision that for some was exaggerated, but (it was made) knowing the reality of our people, of our health system, and seeing how in the countries where the pandemic was most advanced and with greater capacity, it was very difficult for any health system to be prepared to face something like this. And that's how we drastically decided to close borders, close schools, and call quarantine. That was our strategy, to make a high-impact decision for all citizens that would arouse immediate interest in respecting health regulations, health protocols, "said the Paraguayan president in his virtual address to the WHO.

Paraguay suspended classes and public events on March 10 and closed its borders on March 24 until further notice.

Report # COVID19 | May 19: we processed 692 samples, 41 were positive, all from abroad (fulfilling mandatory quarantine in shelters). 5 boarding schools. 11 recovered, thus adding 230. Total confirmed: 829. #QuedateEnCasa @msaludpy pic.twitter.com/FGwcoLiMfF

- Julio Mazzoleni (@MazzoleniJulio) May 19, 2020

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