South America not sparing anti-coronavirus efforts

BOGOTA, Colombia

As the number of COVID-19 cases grows in South America, countries take steps to counter the spread of the virus.

Emergency declarations, actions to restrict mobility, border closures, flight suspensions and government-imposed quarantines are all measures announced by region leaders.

Meanwhile, Brazil's president challenged the doctor's self-isolation orders by greeting supporters in the capital city of Brasilia on Sunday.

Peru

Military members are guarding the main roads in Lima, Peru on Monday and police forces are restricting mobility of people on the first day of the state of emergency issued by the government, in an attempt to curb the coronavirus.

“We are only allowed to leave our houses to go to the supermarket and the pharmacy, and the police will be able to enter people's homes if they hear there are meetings taking place,” says Jose Escalante, who is working from home in Lima, where he will spend the next 15 days under quarantine, as ordered by President Martin Vizarra on Sunday.

Escalante says authorities are allowing people to get what they need in their workplaces on the first day of the state of emergency mandated by the government. But for the next few days, Peruvians will only be allowed to leave their houses to attend health care centers and buy food and medicine.

The number of coronavirus cases in Peru rose to 86 on Monday.

Ecuador

President Lenin Moreno of Ecuador announced similar measures on Sunday.

Moreno said that as of Tuesday, March 17 at 6:00 a.m. local time, the mobility of people and vehicles will be limited to the following activities: buying food, basic needs and pharmaceutical products; attending health centers; moving to the workplace and going back home; caring for the elderly, the disabled or the seriously ill; refueling; and mobilizing for emergency reasons.

"The Police and Armed Forces will control the compliance," he said.

Ecuador announced its second coronavirus-related death on Saturday and confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country rose from 37 to 58. At least 273 cases are being tested.

Venezuela

Venezuela reported new cases of the COVID-19 on Sunday, taking its total to 17.

President Nicolas Maduro ordered a quarantine in Caracas and six states starting Monday, strengthening measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the country.

“Either we quarantine or the pandemic could tragically and painfully take down Venezuela,” Maduro said in a televised statement.

Brazil

While South America takes steps to counter coronavirus, President Jair Bolsonaro ignores warnings.

Despite Bolsonaro´s medical team reportedly suggesting he remain isolated until early next week, the Brazilian leader decided to attend street protests around the country and take selfies with his supporters.

Rodrigo Maia, the speaker of Brazil's House of Representatives, called the president's actions "an attack on public health".

“The President ignores his Minister of Health, disregards the pandemic and encourages people to take to the streets. This is an attack on public health that goes against the guidelines of his own government,” he wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday.

The number of coronavirus infection cases in Brazil has surged to 203.