LA PAZ, Apr 13 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — A total of 300 confirmed cases and 24 deaths from Covid-19 have been reported by the health authorities of the de-facto government of Bolivia.
Of the 300 patients with the disease, 147 were reported in Santa Cruz, 65 in La Paz, 49 in Cochabamba, 15 in Potosi, 11 in Pando, 11 in Oruro, one in Chuquisaca and another one in Tarija.
Based on these figures, Bolivia ranks second in Latin America in mortality rate from this disease, with 7.27 percent of deaths.
The Santa Cruz governorate, which has reported the most cases, will militarize the city and close roads and at least 73 supply centers as of next Tuesday, as part of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Following the announcement, former President Evo Morales (2006-2019) tweeted saying that ‘you cannot imprison neither the virus nor the hunger’, and that ‘the de-facto government is totally wrong in choosing the path of repression with the Police and FF.AA (Armed Forces).’
He assured that it is important to respect quarantine, but guaranteeing health and food assistance for all Bolivians.
The government ordered a quarantine to prevent further contagion due to the disease, a measure that generated protests by hundreds of people in different parts of the country due to the lack of access to essential resources such as food.
The response was the repression, criminalization and politicization of these demonstrations, which ended with the arrest of numerous people. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA
