'Total' lockdown for Chile capital after Covid-19 spike
Chile ordered a mandatory total quarantine for the administrative centre Santiago's seven million persons Wednesday after authorities reported a 60 percent spike in coronavirus infections found in 24 hours, dealing a stunning blow to expectations the economy would rapidly reopen.
"The most severe measure I must announce is a complete quarantine in Greater Santiago," the positioning of 80 percent of the country's 34,000-plus confirmed cases, Wellbeing Minister Jaime Manalich said.
Manalich said the lockdown - including in a number of areas where previously confinement measures have been lifted - was necessary immediately after 2,260 new attacks and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours.
The announcement follows a government request to the IMF for a flexible credit line amounting to around US$23.8 billion for another two years.
The credit line would support kickstart the economy after a few months of mass protests against the federal government of President Sebastian Pinera, a bodyblow to state revenues exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
The lockdown - that can come into force on Friday at 10:00 pm (0200 GMT Saturday) - ensures that people will be allowed to keep their homes only for essential reasons like investing in food or medicine.
Chile had until now opted for a selective quarantine approach in dealing with the pandemic. Curfews were imposed in Santiago and different cities, but quarantines were limited by areas with high incidences of infection.
Chile also offers Latin America's highest fee of coronavirus testing - 14,000 a day time and around 200,000 overall.
However, the government have been increasingly concerned about rising infection amounts across the location of seven million persons during the past 10 days, and the other day ordered strict fresh confinement steps in three densely populated areas.
Health personnel reported growing rates of infection in early May, just after the conservative authorities celebrated the actual fact that infections had "peaked," citing a good persistent daily rate of around 500 new cases.
In a few days, however, officials started out to talk about "The Battle of Santiago."
"The month of Might has been hard on our region and we must take appropriate activities at the right time to stop this disease," Manalich said.
He added that medical system was able to cope, as deaths remain low, with 347 from COVID-19 since March 3.
Wellness authorities said the South American country had 553 ventilators available by Wednesday, and more products would be added in the coming days.
The minister also announced that the government was imposing a mandatory quarantine on persons over 75 years in the northern cities of Iquique and Alto Hospicio.
The government responded quickly to the first cases on March 3, introducing a nationwide curfew and selective quarantines on areas with high incidences of the virus.
Institutions, universities and businesses were closed within social distancing methods and transport restricted.--AFP
