Guatemala: Authorities extend COVID-19 curfew and restrictions until September 21 /update 20

Event

Guatemalan authorities extended the ongoing nighttime curfew between 21:00 and 04:00 (local time) and several restrictions introduced due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic until at least September 21. Members of the public have also been encouraged only to leave their homes for essential activities. The public has been asked not to travel to the municipalities of Chinautla, Mixco, Villa Nueva, and Guatemala City's Zone 18. The practicing of social distancing and the wearing of a face mask in public also remains mandatory.

Authorities announced that Guatemala City's La Aurora International Airport (GUA) is scheduled to resume commercial flights from September 18 following its closure due to the pandemic. Currently, land and sea borders remain closed.

As of Monday, September 7, there have been 77,683 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Guatemala with 2852 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:  

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.