Source:
https://www.lanacion.com.py/pais/20...e-covid-19-y-el-gobierno-cierra-el-puente-de- friendship/
March 17, 2020
Paraguay registers 11 cases of covid-19 and the government closes the Friendship Bridge
1 hour ago
Minutes ago the Paraguayan Ministry of Public Health confirmed two new positive cases of coronavirus, bringing the number of infected people to 11 in the national territory. One of the positives is a person who records a history of travel to Mexico, according to the twitter of the health portfolio.
It also clarifies that 26 samples were processed, of which 24 were negative and two were positive. One of the positive cases is related to the first, the young man who arrived from Ecuador. Two infected people are related to this patient.
Meanwhile, patients with symptoms and arriving to hospitals for complications such as respiratory distress, diarrhea, high fever, and others are treated as possible cases of coronavirus. Once the analysis is done, the disease is ruled out or confirmed.
Close of the Friendship Bridge
The President of the Republic, Mario Abdo Ben?tez announced shortly before the new cases were announced that from this midnight the La Amistad Bridge will be closed for the passage of people. The measure was taken in view that the presidential decree, by which the sanitary measure is applied, has “vulnerable points”. During the day, numerous people entered and left the country through the Ciudad del Este border crossing, without respecting the current restriction. The entry of the merchandise will not be affected.
Abdo Ben?tez added that with Argentina the application of a similar measure will not be necessary, given that the government of the neighboring country already has the restriction of the passage of people in force. Likewise, at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, it is expected that flights from Europe will be allowed to land until today. All arriving passengers must be quarantined, this is what the direction of Migrations remembers.
Support of former ministers
Shortly before announcing the decision to close the Friendship Bridge in Ciudad del Este, for the passage of people, President Abdo Ben?tez met with several former ministers, who expressed their support for the measure adopted by the government and congratulated the work being carried out by the Ministry of Health.
The former finance ministers expressed in a press conference that they are proud that Paraguay has applied drastic measures since the second case, which was considered a timely measure. "We must be prudent and cautious and provide the greatest amount of resources both for the State and for companies and families," said the former minister, Manuel Ferreira.
In turn, Santiago Pe?a, also a former finance minister, said that the most important thing "is that we are living through difficult times and we see a predisposition to use all the legal and legal tools to protect the health of the Paraguayan citizen," he assured, at the same time. to express optimism that the situation will be overcome and will leave a country stronger.
More of the covid-19
Dr. Elena Candia, president of the Paraguayan Society of Infectious Diseases said that the virus can be in the air for up to three to hours and in other elements, such as fabrics, for up to 12 hours, in latex gloves for up to six hours; in a cardboard box it can survive up to 24 hours. To avoid contagions, constant disinfection of all the elements with which you have contact is recommended.
One of the peculiarities of this virus is that the infected person can infect other people even two days before presenting symptoms. In addition, on the recommendation of the World Health Organization, patients who were discharged should remain in isolation again for at least 14 days, since there were cases (in China) of people who tested negative and seemed cured, but weeks later they relapsed and they again tested positive for covid-19.
