COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay
The first cases of the COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay were reported on 13 March by the Ministry of Public Health.[1]
| COVID-19 pandemic in Uruguay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Disease | COVID-19 |
| Location | Uruguay |
| Index case | Montevideo |
| Arrival date | 13 March 2020 (4 years, 5 months, 2 weeks and 2 days) |
| Confirmed cases | 719 (as of May 13, 2020) |
| Active cases | 155 (as of May 13, 2020) |
| Severe cases | 8 (as of May 13, 2020) |
| Recovered | 545 (as of May 13, 2020) |
Deaths | 19 (as of May 13, 2020) |
| Government website | |
| Sistema Nacional de Emergencias | |
As of March 2020 there is an ongoing outbreak in Uruguay, with the first few cases imported from Italy and Spain.
Cause
The majority of early cases were caused by a wedding with 500 people in Montevideo. It was attended by a Uruguayan returning from Spain who later tested positive.[2]
On 14 March, it was announced that the two patients who took the bus ride on 8 March caused some 200 contacts, who were seen as suspected cases with home quarantine recommended.[3][4]
Response
On 16 March, the government issued an order to close all border crossings except Carrasco International Airport.[5] The border with Argentina was closed effective 17 March at midnight.[6]
President Luis Lacalle Pou said that the idea of closing the border with Brazil was "a little more complex", because it is a dry land border, and many people living near the border. Lacalle Pou advised people over 65 to stay at home.
Flights from the United States were suspended effective 18 March,[7] and from Europe effective 20 March at midnight (00:00),[8] at which point the airport was to close.
The government recommended working from home and not traveling. To free up hospital beds, surgeries were rescheduled.
Temperature checks were introduced in prisons and activities for prisoners restricted.[9]
References
- ↑ "A brand-new challenge" (in español). El Observador. 15 March 2020.
- ↑ "Half of Uruguay's coronavirus cases traced to a single guest at a society party". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/19/uruguay-coronavirus-party-guest-argentina. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- ↑ "Van seis casos de coronavirus en Uruguay; todos se encuentran fuera de peligro". El País (in español). 14 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ↑ "Hay 80 casos sospechosos de coronavirus en cuarentena en Salto". Telemundo 12. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
- ↑ "Gobierno confirma 29 casos en Uruguay y decreta cierre de fronteras con Argentina". El País. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ↑ "Uruguay closes borders with Argentina in bid to block coronavirus". Buenos Aires Times. https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/uruguay-closed-borders-with-argentina-due-to-coronavirus.phtml. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ↑ "Suspenden vuelos desde Europa para contener el brote y lanzarán una nueva app". El Observador. https://www.elobservador.com.uy/nota/suspenden-vuelos-desde-europa-y-eeuu-para-contener-el-brote-y-lanzaran-una-nueva-app-202031519400. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ↑ "Gobierno suspenderá vuelos desde Europa, habilitará chatbot para consultas y nueva app" (in es). Diario EL PAIS Uruguay. https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/politica/gobierno-evalua-limitar-suspender-atencion-publico-oficinas.html. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
- ↑ "Coronavirus: qué medidas se tomaron en las cárceles para prevenir el contagio" (in es). Diario EL PAIS Uruguay. https://www.elpais.com.uy/informacion/salud/coronavirus-medidas-tomaron-carceles-prevenir-contagio.html. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
