Demonstrations in Paraguay.
Credit: NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP via Getty Images
(CNN Spanish) -
This Sunday, March 7, marks a year since the confirmation of the first case of covid-19 in Paraguay.
"On March 7, 2020, the former Minister of Health, Julio Mazzoleni, confirmed the case of covid-19 in a 32-year-old man who arrived in the country from Ecuador," according to the official IP news agency.
A few days later, the suspension of mass attendance events, face-to-face classes and finally the closing of borders was announced as measures to mitigate the spread of the virus.
As of May 2020, the so-called “Smart Quarantine” began, which included phases with a gradual release of economic and social activities.
Since Monday, October 5, a new phase of quarantine has been in effect, with a fixed restriction on mobilization (from 00:00 to 05:00 hours) and the possibility of holding social events.
MIRA: Faced with protests, riots and threats of impeachment, the president of Paraguay proposes a change of course and changes 4 ministers
According to data from the Ministry of Health, released by the official news portal, there is currently a new increase in cases and the latest weekly report on the situation of the pandemic indicates a second wave in the Alto Paraná department, on the border. with Brazil.
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Official figures indicate that there is a high demand in intensive care units throughout the country, with 300 hospitalized for covid-19 until this Sunday.
The latest report from the Ministry of Health indicates that there are 24,192 active cases, a total of cases in a year that add up to 166,969 and 3,294 deaths.
Health and political crisis
President Mario Abdo Benítez announced changes in the cabinet and in the ministries of Education, Health and Women.
The announcement was made after a day of demonstrations on Friday 5 in the Asunción microcenter in opposition to his health management to acquire supplies, medicines and vaccines in the midst of the pandemic.
The president has not yet given the names of the new members of his cabinet, however, the Legal Department of the Presidency reported that the regulatory decrees with the new designations will come out as of Monday.
Abdo Benítez regretted that Friday's day "was committed for the sake of a few, contaminating the legitimate exercise of a constitutional right," after incidents arose between police officers and protesters who threw, according to data from the Trauma Hospital and the hospital - cited by the newspaper La Nación - 12 policemen injured during the demonstration and 8 civilians treated.
MORE: Paraguayan legislator dies from covid-19 and the Government announces the arrival of more vaccines
In his recorded message broadcast on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. local time, President Abdo Benítez expressed his willingness to guarantee freedom of expression and demonstration and added that he was aware of citizen demands to wait for changes.
However, the citizen demonstrations that began this Saturday night continued until the early hours of this Sunday.
According to the newspaper ABC, a group of protesters tried to overcome a protection fence near the presidential house and, after incidents with the police, about 8 protesters were arrested.
In a statement released this Sunday, the United Nations was concerned about the political and social crisis that Paraguay is experiencing.
Through a statement, the UN "urges the authorities, political sectors, and all citizens to reject all types of violence, to respect the rule of law and to maintain and consolidate the necessary conditions for peaceful dialogue."
Credit: NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP via Getty Images
Political trial against Mario Abdo Benítez?
After the clashes between some protesters and the forces of order, the spokespersons of different opposition political formations, such as the Liberal Party - the main opposition party - or the Guasu Front, led by senator and former president Fernando Lugo, expressed their intention to promote a political trial in Congress to remove Abdo Benítez.
According to some analysts such as Estela Ruiz Diaz, the president's opponents would not have - for now - the necessary votes if they do not have the support of factions of the ruling Colorado Party.
Mario Abdo Benitez
