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Latin America & the Caribbean: Weekly Situation Update (23-29 March 2020) As of 30 March 2020

Pays
Monde
+ 13
Sources
OCHA
Date de publication

KEY FIGURES

13.7K CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASES IN LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN AS OF 29 MARCH

154M CHILDREN IN THE REGION OUT OF SCHOOL DUE TO TEMPORARY SCHOOL CLOSURES

$1.9B ALLOCATED BY BCIE TO RESPOND TO HEALTH AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COVID-19

3.2M PEOPLE TO BE ASSISTED WITH MASSIVE FOOD SUPPLY OPERATION IN HONDURAS

REGIONAL: COVID-19

Cases are referenced from PAHO/WHO 29 March COVID-19 Report - https://bit.ly/3bzx2QK

As of 29 March, PAHO/WHO are reporting a total of 13,771 cases and 284 deaths in 49 countries and territories in Latin America and the Caribbean.

IMPACT ON EDUCATION

According to UNICEF, more than 154 million children in Latin America and the Caribbean, about 95 per cent of enrolled students, are temporarily out of school due to COVID-19 closing around 90 per cent of all schools in the region, posing an increased risk of permanent drop out in vulnerable populations. The prolonged closure of schools will disrupt regular access to school meals for many.

Although many countries are implementing distance learning measures, poorer communities are unable to access the technology required. UNICEF and partners will launch the #LearningAtHome regional outreach campaign to provide families and educators with free education tools.

CENTRAL AMERICA: COVID-19

REGIONAL

The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE) announced that they are allocating US$1.9 billion to the Central American Integration System (SICA) to respond to COVID-19. The allocation includes $550 million for emergency budget support, $1 billion for central banks and $2.1 million to purchase 150,000 testing kits.

BCIE has already made disbursements from this allocation, with $8 million donations to SICA countries and $25,000 to support the Trifinio sub-region of 45 municipalities across El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

GUATEMALA (34 cases)

Congress approved two $450 million loans to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic and a 30-day extension of the previously declared state of calamity.

HONDURAS (110 cases)

The Government will deliver 800,000 rations of food supply to 3.2 million people across the country to mitigate vulnerabilities during the pandemic, the biggest food delivery operation ever in Honduras.

COSTA RICA (295 cases)

Costa Rica and Panama are regulating the crossing of some 2,600 migrants from outside the continent between their border. Costa Rica will allow or deny entry according to migrants' health status, with those allowed entry transferred to northern Costa Rica to avoid protection risks. The Costa Rican Red Cross is providing primary care.

On 26 March, Costa Rica announced that it has thus far allowed only 60 people from this group, while the remainder remain in Panama.

SOUTH AMERICA: COVID-19

ECUADOR (1,835 cases)

The Minister of Health reports that Ecuador is set to receive 200,000 additional testing kits in the coming week. The Minister also indicated that the Government is allocating around US$120 million to respond to the health emergency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

PERU (671 cases)

President Martín Vizcarra extended the state of emergency and evening curfew until 12 April, while the Ministry of Health approved the purchase of 400,000 testing kits to strengthen diagnostic capacities.

The Ministry of Health is also requesting that departmental health authorities deliver a plan to establish a dedicated COVID-19 treatment hospital in their department, to be backed by $17.7 million in financing for each department.

CHILE (1,909 cases)

The Government announced a complete quarantine for 1.3 million people across seven communities in the Metropolitan Region, where the majority of Chile’s caseload is located.

The Ministry of Education is extending the suspension of school activity for two additional weeks and are moving up winter vacations, effectively putting school activity on hold through all of April. The Ministry is using online learning tools and say they will continue delivering food to 1.5 million students.

CARIBBEAN: COVID-19

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (581 cases)

President Danilo Medina announced on 26 March that the nationwide curfew will be extended until 3 April. The High-level Commission for COVID-19 Prevention and Control also announced that the Ministry of Health is supplying laboratories at public hospitals with supplies to carry out testing. Private hospitals are working to standardize testing protocols, as well.

JAMAICA (32 cases)

The Government has allocated US$1 million to local parish governments across the island to respond to COVID-19 and assist affected people. The funds will be used under specific guidelines set out by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, along with the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service as well as the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

BARBADOS (26 cases)

The Minister of Health and Wellness announced that Barbados will receive nurses and doctors and medicine from Cuba to assist COVID-19 response efforts on the island. Additionally, Barbados began an island-wide evening curfew from 8:00pm to 6:00am on 28 March, reducing business operating hours and restricting movement to halt the spread of COVID-19.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.