Venezuela announces border curfews as coronavirus cases jump

Author: Agencies

Venezuela imposed new curfews in a handful of towns along its borders with Colombia and Brazil in response to a jump in coronavirus cases which officials attributed mainly to returning migrants, Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez said on Tuesday.

In a state television address, Rodriguez said the South American country had detected 131 new cases in the past 24 hours, the most it has registered in a single day to date. He said that included 110 people who had contracted the virus abroad, bringing the total to 749, with 10 deaths.

Millions of Venezuelans have emigrated in recent years due to an economic breakdown and humanitarian crisis, with many settling in nearby Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. But with lockdowns to contain the spread of the coronavirus in those countries now hurting their economies, thousands have returned.

Migrants returning to Venezuela are required to spend a 14-day quarantine period at shelters at the border, rather than in their home states.

Venezuela has so far registered far fewer coronavirus cases than most major Latin American countries, but the daily case count has grown at a brisk rate in each of the last four days. Hospital workers warn that their facilities are unprepared for a major outbreak after years of underfunding.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Business

Planning minister vows to increase ports’ efficiency, boost trade

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday reaffirmed the government’s…

3 hours ago
  • Business

Commerce Minister reviews trade strategy

Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan on Friday reviewed quarterly trade figures and stressed…

3 hours ago
  • Business

How Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s alleged bribery scheme took off and unravelled

In June of 2020, a renewable energy company owned by Indian billionaire Gautam Adani won…

3 hours ago
  • Business

PSX continues with bullish trend, gains 469 more points

The 100-Index of the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) continued with bullish trend on Friday, gaining…

3 hours ago
  • Business

Rupee gains 20 paisa against USD

Pakistani rupee on Friday appreciated by 20 paisa against the US dollar in the interbank…

3 hours ago
  • Business

Gold prices up by Rs.2,500 per tola

The price of 24 karat per tola gold increased by Rs.2,500 and was sold at…

3 hours ago