Source:
https://ww2.elmercurio.com.ec/2020/03/25/el-coronavirus-afecta-a-21-de-las-24-provincias-de-ecuador/
Home Highlights Coronavirus affects 21 of the 24 provinces of Ecuador
By HGV - March 25, 2020
A total of 21 of the 24 provinces of Ecuador register a case of coronavirus, according to official data, which on Wednesday put 1,173 positives for COVID-19 and 28 deaths
Alexandra Ocles, head of the National Risk and Emergency Management Service (SNGRE), indicated that there are 1,562 suspected cases, that 1,346 have been discarded and that 3 have been recovered.
On other possible recovered cases, Ocles said in a virtual press conference that there are several people who have ended the days of mandatory preventive isolation, but are conducting tests for possible viral load.
He explained that they no longer provide information on the epidemiological fence because in the most affected provinces -Guayas and Pichincha- the "virus is community", and "monitoring epidemiological fence does not make any more sense."
THREE AMAZONIAN PROVINCES WITHOUT CASES
According to SNGRE statistics, of the total number of infected, 990 are stable in home isolation and 152 are hospitalized, 65 of which have a reserved prognosis.
The province of Guayas, whose capital is Guayaquil, has the highest number of infections (859), followed by Pichincha -whose capital is Quito- (99), Los R?os (40), Manab? (38) and Azuay (31).
The Galapagos Islands, located about a thousand kilometers from the Ecuadorian continental coasts, declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) in 1978 as Natural Heritage of Humanity, register four cases.
The only provinces that are not affected are Napo, Orellana and Zamora Chinchipe, all located in the Amazon region.
The official commented that it is not possible to speak in general of a slowdown in infections because it is a "complex moment yet, we are going through a sensitive moment in the process."
SANITARY SYSTEM
Regarding the health system, he noted that there are 9,805 beds available nationwide and 259 intensive care units established so far.
"We are considering other areas that can be implemented for the care, especially of those patients who have mild symptoms and who need to be in isolation," he said.
The Ecuadorian Ministry of Public Health has reported the adaptation of a hundred beds in a coliseum in the coastal province of Guayas (southwest).
The location will also serve as a medical isolation space for confirmed patients, he said in a statement.
Ocles stressed that the health system "is not yet saturated", so he insisted that preventive measures be strictly followed.
By virtue of an executive decree, the most affected province has been declared a "special security zone" and a joint task force has been formed under the name "Guayas", according to the Joint Command of the Armed Forces.
Wider curfew
The President of Ecuador, Len?n Moreno, has arranged that, starting this Wednesday, a new curfew schedule will apply throughout the national territory, which will run between 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., "except for activities essential ”.
Until Tuesday, the curfew in the country, except in Guayas, the most affected province, as well as Santa Elena and the Galapagos, was from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
In the three aforementioned provinces, the curfew until Tuesday was in effect from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
The head of state warned that "whoever fails to comply will be punished!", On the first occasion with the payment of a $ 100 fine, for the second time with a basic salary ($ 400) and for the third time with a prison sentence. EFE