Paraguay imposes a new quarantine until Easter to stop the spread of Covid-19

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Government of Paraguay has issued this Wednesday, March 24th, a decree that establishes a new quarantine in the country from this Saturday until April 4th, Easter day, to prevent further spread of Covid-19.

“During the validity of these measures all inhabitants must remain in their usual homes or wherever they are and may make minimum and indispensable movements for the replenishment of food of medicines and cleaning supplies between 5 AM and until 8 PM local time,” has detailed the Chief of Staff, Hernán Huttemann, according to ‘Última hora’.

Likewise, cultural and leisure events have been suspended and worship services have a limit of a maximum of 20 people, while public transportation is maintained.

The Chief of Staff has stressed that “the idea of this decree is to slow down the pace of contagions and give a break to the health system, which at this moment is in a critical moment.”

Specifically, this Wednesday, the country has reached 3,869 deaths due to Covid-19, with a record number of 51 deaths on the previous day, while there are 200,823 confirmed cases, according to the Ministry of Health.

The head of the area, Julio Borba, confirmed on Wednesday that the Brazilian strain of Covid-19 is already circulating in the country, with two cases detected.

Faced with the entry of new variants, the director of Migration, Ángeles Arriola, informed that the borders will remain open but controls will be tightened.

On the other hand, the Minister of Public Works and Communications, Arnoldo Wiens, has indicated that it will not be possible to travel in the interior of the country and that strict control will be maintained on the routes.

“Those who violate the measure will be asked for their documentation, a strict procedure according to the law, which will be communicated to the Public Ministry and the Ministry of Health so that the necessary measures can be taken”, he added.

SUPPORT TO SECTORS HIT BY THE PANDEMIC

On the occasion of the new restrictions and their impact on the country, the Government has agreed to continue with several measures aimed at supporting the sectors hit by the pandemic, particularly gastronomy, events, bars, tourism, hotels and services.

“It has been agreed to defer the payment of basic tariffs such as Essap and Ande during the months of March, April, May and June of this year and subsequent refinancing of the same without interest and in terms of up to 18 months”, explained the Minister of Finance, Óscar Llamosas.

Likewise, he pointed out that the rate of the Employer Worker’s Contribution to these affected sectors has been reduced from 16.5 to 2.5 percent, effective throughout 2021, and financing facilities have been established through the public banks of the Banco Nacional de Fomento and the Crédito Agrícola de Habilitación, with an additional one-year grace period.

Meanwhile, tax facilities have been made available to the aforementioned sectors, such as a 50 percent VAT reduction until October of this year.

Source: Infobae