Paraguay - Coronavirus COVID-19

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Paraguay reshuffles cabinet after violent Covid-19 protests
March 3, 2021


Paraguay’s president faces mass protests and calls for impeachment as cases rise.
March 7, 2021

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Mass protests erupt in Paraguay over disastrous handling of pandemic
March 9, 2021

“As COVID-19 deaths and cases reach record levels in Paraguay, mass demonstrations have erupted for a second consecutive week over the disastrous response to the pandemic by the government of the country’s fascistic President Mario Abdo Benitez.

Teachers were the first to protest last week, with many refusing the mandatory return to school on Tuesday, March 2. The following day, nurses, doctors, patients and family members demonstrated outside of the main COVID-19 hospital in the capital of Asunción to protest the lack of medicines, including sedatives for intubating patients, and vaccines, even for front-line workers.

While Paraguay faces a massive surge in the pandemic that has filled all ICU beds in public hospitals, the country has received only 4,000 vaccine doses for a population of 7 million, and officials have no estimate for when more doses will arrive. Paraguay has confirmed almost 170,000 cases and 3,343 deaths.“

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Analysis: Rise in coronavirus cases in Paraguay precipitates political crisis | The Rio Times
March 11, 2021

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Paraguay’s health care system collapses as government tries to quell protests
March 15, 2021

“The surge in cases since early February has been exponential, with the seven-day average rising from 700 daily infections to 1,730. According to Our World in Data, Paraguay has the highest rate of new infections in the world, with 44.6 percent of COVID-19 tests coming out positive.

On Sunday, the specialist in infectious diseases Tomás Mateo Balmelli raised the prospect that, given the current trend, the health care system will remain “collapsed” for the rest of the year. He pointed to the dangers of a rise in flu and Dengue cases, as well as the new and more transmissible coronavirus variants.

Several health care experts have suggested that the recent surge is being dramatically worsened by the new strains from Brazil, after thousands of Paraguayans traveled there for vacations. The rapid surges in Brazil, Paraguay and much of Europe, fueled by the new variants, are a major warning for the rest of the world.”

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Taiwan says helping ally Paraguay to buy COVID-19 vaccines
March 16, 2021

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Paraguay's president survives impeachment bid over pandemic - New West Record
March 17, 2021

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Protesters in Paraguay Question Pandemic Response and One-Party Rule
March 22, 2021

Protesters in the capital city of Asunción, Paraguay on March 6, 2021. (Diego Pusineri)

“During the month of March, protesters in Paraguay have demanded that President Mario Abdo Benítez resign or be removed from office due to his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.

On March 17, legislators rejected a motion for impeachment of Benítez and Vice President Hugo Velázquez. A heavy police presence dispersed protesters gathered around Congress.

Protesters point to numerous corruption scandals, questionable implementation of emergency funds, and a severe lack of hospital beds, medical supplies, and vaccines as evidence of the government’s mismanagement. An explosion of cases of the coronavirus is overwhelming the country’s health system, leading to Paraguay’s most difficult moment of the pandemic to date.“

 

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Paraguay's Health Minister: total quarantine imminent
March 24, 2021


“Borba also announced the country is to receive multiple supplies of anti-covid-19 vaccines in the near future. “We are seeing the purchase of vaccines through the Foreign Ministry and we already have made progress with India, the United States and Qatar. There are confidentiality agreements on the negotiations and progress means that we are signing documents to access the vaccines,” he explained.
According to Borba, Paraguay will buy a batch of 2 million doses of Covaxin vaccines, while another 200,000 was part of a donation of AstraZeneca vaccines. “This proposal was based on a conversation between the Indian Ambassador and President Mario Abdo. Later, we had a meeting and negotiations began. Now we are reaching a good port,” added Borba.

The Covaxin vaccine is manufactured by the Bharat Biotech company and offers 81% effectiveness against Covid-19. However, it does not yet have authorization from a high health surveillance authority for emergency use. On the other hand, Borba once again denied having received any proposal from the Paraguay-China Chamber of Commerce for the acquisition of a large number of doses of the Sinovac vaccine.”

 

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Taiwan blasts attempts at 'vaccine diplomacy' targeting Paraguay - Focus Taiwan
March 23, 2021


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“Paraguay received 4,000 doses of Sputnik V, out of 1 million that were purchased outside the Covax mechanism. The country has also received 20,000 doses of the CoronaVac vaccine donated by Chile, 3,000 doses of Sinopharm donated by the United Arab Emirates and 36,000 doses of AstraZeneca through the Covax mechanism. Another 200,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are due in from India and Qatar will send 400,000 doses of Moderna, according to Borba.“

Paraguay's Health Minister: total quarantine imminent
March 24, 2021

 

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Paraguay under strict lockdown as of Saturday
March 27, 2021

“Paraguay has decreed a strict state of lockdown as of this Saturday at 00.00 as a measure to curb the spread of the Sars-Cov-2 virus, particularly the Brazilian P1 variant, also known as Manaus, and which has been affecting the country's health system severely in the past days.

The decision came in time for the Easter Week holidays and was intended to prevent mass gatherings and celebrations.“

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“Law Enforcement is to run checkpoints together with the armed forces at many strategic places throughout the country to make sure the lockdown is observed, newly-appointed interim National Police Deputy Chief Víctor Balbuena warned.“

 

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Taiwan accused China of trying to bribe Paraguay with COVID-19 vaccines to make it stop recognizing Taiwan

 

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Taiwan: India helped Paraguay get Covid vaccines despite China pressure | World News - Times of India