Honduras: Authorities extend curfew orders until July 26 /update 12

Event

On Monday, July 20, authorities announced that the ongoing nationwide curfew will remain in place until Sunday, July 26, due to the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The curfew remains in place between the hours of 17:00 and 09:00 (local time).

Banks, pharmacies, gas stations, supermarkets, hardware stores, fruit and vegetable markets, and other authorized businesses will be open Monday through Friday. Shopping and essential activities will be allowed Monday through Friday from 09:00 to 17:00 according to the last digit of an individual's national identity card or passport number for non-Honduran citizens (Monday, July 20 - 6; Tuesday, July 21 - 7; Wednesday, July 22 - 8; Thursday, July 23 - 9; Friday, July 24 - 0).

The elderly, pregnant women, and individuals with disabilities will be able to exclusively access essential businesses from 07:00 to 09:00, and banks from 09:00 to 10:00 on the day which corresponds to the last number on their identification card. 

The Government of Honduras has suspended the Phase I reopening in the Central District (including Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela), San Pedro Sula, Olancho, Choluteca, Atlántida, Comayagua, Santa Bárbara, Lempira, and Colón. Sectors previously authorized to operate under Phase I, including non-essential businesses, must remain closed. Outside of these areas, Phase I businesses are permitted to operate, and individuals may circulate under the same schedule.

As of Tuesday, July 26, there have been 34,611 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Honduras, and 935 associated fatalities. Further international spread of the virus is 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.