MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Chile's metropolitan region overwhelmed by the pandemic; half the country in strict confinement
“The situation in our country continues to rise, above all in the metropolitan region,” health ministry official Arturo Zuniga said. Chile registered its worst daily figures for coronavirus fatalities on Friday, with 222 deaths and more than 6,700 new infections in the previous 24-hours, authorities said.
“The situation in our country continues to rise, above all in the metropolitan region,” health ministry official Arturo Zuniga said.
Infections have risen steadily in the copper giant despite the capital Santiago and its seven million people being placed on lockdown four weeks ago.
On Friday, the government also put the cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar under mandatory quarantine, along with nearby rural towns.
The quarantine orders mean that nearly half of Chile's 18 million population is under strict confinement.
Chile had registered more than 160,000 infections early Friday, with a total 2,870 deaths. Health officials said the emergency services were operating at maximum capacity to contain the virus.
Zuniga said 1,391 patients were on ventilators Friday, with 373 of them in critical condition.
“We have the possibility to continue increasing our mechanical ventilator capacity, according to patients' requirements,” said Zuniga. “Purchases that we have committed to will continue coming.”
Top Comments
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Read all commentsThe current deadly pandemic is sad and we are taking prudent cautions.
Jun 14th, 2020 - 01:05 am 0We Chilenos are accostomed to earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic erruptions, droughts, revolutions and dealing with Marxists like Enrique.
My entire extended family plan to enjoy skiing at Valle Nevado on July 3rd. (Previously we vacationed at Las Leñas, but Argentina has decided to keep their resorts closed.)
https://youtu.be/NA3_Y46F20U
Life is good!
Unlike our neighbors across the Andes, we are encouraged to export and we enjoy a stable currency without unreasonable monitary restrictions.
(Curiously Enrique remains mute about Venezuela.)
You wouldn’t usually expect figures to start spiking upwards like this after four weeks of strict lockdown!
Jun 14th, 2020 - 01:05 pm 0Unless you have an epidemic sweeping through care homes or similar, as happened here, deaths in hospital were going down but going up in other settings.
You need the breakdown of where the deaths are occurring to see what is going on. Data kills discussion.
Either that or the lockdown isn’t being observed.
Pugol-H
Jun 14th, 2020 - 05:47 pm 0“There are lies, damn lies and statistics.”
You're correct that this evil virus has taken a vicious toll upon our elderly.
The current problem in Chile unfortunately is a mix of politics and incomplete data combined with insufficient testing equipment. (Knowing my neighbors on the other side of the Andes — their situation is similar or worse.) Piñera just replaced the current minister of health with the highly respected Dr. Enrique Paris — predictably, the opposition is outraged anyway.
Using logic take a look at the current statistics: Chile has an approximate 19 million inhabitants: 167K confirmed cases (approximately half have recovered), 3,101 deaths of which 231 are reported. Double the number and then do the math yourself.
As I've said, our family band of gypsies will be together celebrating the opening day of Valle Nevado on July 3. My youngest daughter is employed working with the resort in compliance for all the newly changing restrictions. Food services will all be prepackaged and the bathroom facilities are complicated, but they are still planing 2020 operations open.
Stay well!
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