COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia

Confirmed COVID-19 Cases in the Provinces of Bolivia: 1–3999 4000-7999 8000-15999 16000-31999 ≥32000     
Illness:	COVID-19
Pathogen:	SARS-CoV-2
Confirmed cases:	112.094 (as of August 26, 2020)
Deaths:	4726 (as of August 26, 2020)

Number of cases in the Bolivian departments per 100,000 inhabitants

The COVID-19 pandemic is occurring in Bolivia as part of the global COVID-19 pandemic that started in China in December 2019. The pandemic affects the novel disease COVID-19 . This is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus from the Coronaviridae group and belongs to the group of respiratory diseases . From March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the outbreak of the novel coronavirus as a global pandemic.

course

Preparation and first cases

Before reporting the first case, the Bolivian interim government organized a committee made up of experts and members of the government.

On March 10, 2020, the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Bolivia. This case first appeared in the WHO situation reports on March 11, 2020.

Border closure and quarantine

With the decree 4196 the borders (except for Bolivians) were closed on March 17th, 2020. Only commercial transport was allowed between provinces. All international flights have been canceled. Kindergartens and schools were closed.

From March 22, 2020, the country was quarantined by Decree 4199, initially for 14 days. The decree has been extended three times until May 10, 2020. Leaving the house is only allowed for certain purposes (e.g. shopping for food or medical emergencies). In addition, only one person per household is allowed to leave the apartment at a time and only on one day of the week, according to the last ID number. Children and senior citizens have to stay inside the apartment or their own property at all times. Electricity prices and, from April 1, 2020, gas prices were reduced, and the interruption of the supply of electricity, gas or water was prohibited.

To further alleviate the distress caused by the curfew for a large part of the population, a series of aid was organized by the government of Bolivia and the departments from April. In addition to cash payments of 500 Bolivianos, food was also distributed to needy families and other services such as general coverage of water fees.

As of May 17, 2020, the WHO had confirmed 4088 COVID-19 cases and 169 deaths in Bolivia.

First regional easing

As of May 11, 2020, all provinces were classified in 3 risk classes (high, medium, moderate), with factors such as the number of cases, population density and test capacities being included in the evaluation. Since then, graduated easing has been in force in some provinces ( Cuarentena dinámica ). Furthermore, the lowland regions of Beni and Santa Cruz are the departments with by far the highest virus activity. In the highlands and in the Andean valleys, the number of cases remains low.

The government of Bolivia and the departments has been gradually expanding capacities (isolation rooms, COVID-19 intensive care units, test laboratories, protective equipment) since March. For example, on May 14, 2020, a delivery of 170 ventilators from Spain reached the country.

Regional tightening of measures around the winter solstice

In the second half of June or July, Bolivia typically has its greatest cold spells, so that the risk of infection is estimated to be particularly high. The usual festivities around the winter solstice ( Willakatuti as well as St. John's Day ) should be celebrated in small groups at most. In a number of cities, including La Paz and Tarija, the June 2020 were a consequently over encapsulamiento (encapsulation) introduced called stringent quarantine. It became clear that the previous quarantine regime would not be sufficient to sufficiently contain the spread of the virus. It is forbidden to leave the house during the encapsulamiento for an extendable period of 3 to 7 days . As a result, public life stands almost completely at a standstill. At the same time, the health authorities are sometimes using the time to carry out systematic COVID-19 tests and thus get a better picture of the situation.

As of June 30, 1,094 new cases and 52 deaths were reported, of which 670 and 24 were in Santa Cruz Department, respectively. The main activity of the pandemic thus continues to be concentrated in the lowlands.

Measures to reactivate the economy and new political unrest

In mid-July the government presented the Crédito 1,2,3 program , which aims to promote economic activity. These are low-interest, state-guaranteed loans that are granted through banks. However, the sum of money does not go to the borrower, but to a domestic supplier.

The partially tightened quarantine measures are showing little effect. Rather, almost all hospitals in Bolivia groan under the high patient numbers in July. In many places the health system is collapsing to varying degrees.

At the same time, the crisis is increasingly leading to political and social conflicts, which are clearly revealed on the national holiday (August 6). The powerful employee representative Central Obrera Boliviana had already mobilized against the renewed postponement of the presidential election and blocked the country's traffic routes in around 75 places. In some cases, this also prevents important deliveries to hospitals. In addition, the government is arguing with the legislature, which continues to be dominated by the MAS, over new grants ( bonos ) to alleviate the plight of the poor strata of the population. Representatives of the MAS suspect an election campaign tactic and refuse to release the funds.

On August 4, 1,515 new cases and 92 deaths were reported, 35 in Santa Cruz and 21 in La Paz.

statistics

The number of cases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia according to data from the interim government developed as follows:

Infections

Confirmed positive test results (cumulative) in Bolivia

Confirmed new positive test results (per week) in Bolivia

Deaths

Confirmed deaths (cumulative) in Bolivia

Confirmed New Deaths (Per Week) in Bolivia

See also

• List of epidemics and pandemics
• List of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic

Web links

Commons : COVID-19 Pandemic in Bolivia  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• World Health Organization (WHO): Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation reports on the website www.who.int (English)
• Johns Hopkins CSSE : Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases. (English)
• Website World of Meters : real-time data of the Corona virus pandemic (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Sitio oficial del Gobierno de Bolivia sobre el COVID-19. In: boliviasegura.gob.bo. Retrieved April 17, 2020 (Spanish). 
2. ↑ Pulmonologists on the net: Covid-19: Causes . Online at www.lungenaerzte-im-netz.de. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
3. ↑ Tagesschau: "Deeply worried". WHO speaks of corona pandemic . March 11, 2020. Online at www.tagesschau.de. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
4. ^ Ministerio de Salud conforma comité intersectorial para detectar posibles casos sospechosos de coronavirus .
5. ↑ ^{a b} Situation reports. In: who.int. Retrieved April 22, 2020 . 
6. ^ Gobierno presenta DS 4196 de emergencia sanitaria y cuarentena Nacional. Retrieved April 16, 2020 (Spanish). 
7. ↑ La presidenta Jeanine Añez confirma cuarentena en el país desde el domingo .
8. ^ Este martes 5 comienza el pago del Bono Universal en todo el país. Retrieved May 20, 2020 (Spanish). 
9. ↑ Bolivia recibe desde España un primer lote de equipos para tratar la COVID-19. Retrieved May 20, 2020 (Spanish). 
10. ↑ COED anuncia encapsulamiento de La Paz por tres días e intervención del Sedes. Retrieved July 1, 2020 (Spanish). 
11. ↑ Correo del Sur, July 16, 2020 (Spanish, accessed on August 6, 2020)
12. ↑ La Razón, August 4, 2020 (Spanish, accessed on August 6, 2020)