Honduras: Nationwide curfew extended until August 23 /update 17

Event

Honduran authorities have extended the nationwide daily curfew until September 6 due to the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Members of the public are permitted to leave their homes to undertake essential activities on selected days based on the last digit of their national identity card or passport number of non-Honduran citizens between 06:00 and 20:00 (local time):

• Saturday, August 22, -1;
• Sunday, August 23, -2;
• Monday, August 24, -3;
• Tuesday, August 25, -4;
• Wednesday, August 26, -5;
• Thursday, August 27, -6;
• Friday, August 28, -7;
• Saturday, August 29, -8;
• Sunday, August 30, -9;
• Monday, August 31, - 0;
• Tuesday, September 1, -1;
• Wednesday, September 2, -2;
• Thursday, September 3, -3;
• Friday, September 4, -4;
• Saturday, September 5, -5;
• Sunday, September 6, -6;

Authorities have eased the curfew to permit members of the public to undertake essential activities during the weekend. However, these days are subject to the number system outlined in the above list. Businesses such as shops selling food, hardware stores, pharmacies, banks, and other permitted services are during these hours.

Honduras reopened airports for international commercial flight operations on August 17, while domestic flights resumed on August 10. Land and sea borders remain closed, although the transport of freight and supplies is permitted. Face masks also remain mandatory in all public spaces.

As of Saturday, August 22, there have been 53,381 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Honduras, and 1632 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.