The coronavirus epidemic will be present for “ at least a year ”, Colombian President Iván Duque estimated Monday, immediately ruling out any lifting of the confinement despite its negative impact on the economy.
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“ Protecting health and at the same time relaunching activity, with social distancing, is a duty for the whole world, even more when we know how complicated it is to slow down the Covid-19 ”, he declared in a video statement posted on the internet. There is indeed, continued the president, no vaccine, treatment or guaranteed immunity for this virus " which will be present for at least another year ".
200,000 cases of contamination
Populated by 50 million inhabitants, Colombia crossed the milestone of 200,000 cases of contamination on Monday since the appearance of the first case of coronavirus on March 6. The number of deaths linked to the virus is expected to exceed 7,000 on Tuesday, making Colombia the fifth most affected country in Latin America behind Brazil, Mexico, Peru and Chile.
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In an attempt to curb the spread of the virus, the Colombian president imposed on March 25 containment measures that will remain in force in principle until August 1. Under the pressure of the economic crisis caused by the crisis, which destroyed five million jobs, he has since decided to authorize the resumption of certain activities without, however, going so far as to lift the containment at a time when the epidemic enters its critical phase in the country.