Minister of the Presidency Gustavo Montalvo announced on Monday, 30 March 2020 new measures. He is the president of the High Commission for the Prevention of Coronavirus.
He expressed appreciation to the entities that are offering donations of medicines and medical supplies. All private initiative is welcome and more important than ever, he said. And then he told these that while people can freely donate food, in the case of medical equipment, pharmaceutical or diagnostic tests, these need to be made to the government and these will be distributed to the public through official channels. “In no case can these be donated directly to the population by third parties. These would only generate confusion and uncertainty in a time when the country needs protocols very clearly defined. Only those in charge of public health can decide the use of the donations,” he said.
He said government agencies and private insurance companies have reached agreements for the coverage of the diagnostic tests. The government issued Resolution No. 229-2020. It establishes that the health insurance companies, ARS will now cover the PCR tests to their affiliates. Senasa will cover the tests of those that are not affiliated. The tests will be applied to those with two or more symptoms, have traveled from abroad, or have been in contact with persons who have suffered the disease. Appointments are necessary, nevertheless. Two private laboratories, Amadita and Referencia are also carrying out the diagnostic tests.
He said government agencies are carrying out operations to reduce to a minimum the vectors and other possible causes of other diseases that could worsen the national health situation.
Montalvo also announced that as of 30 March, police and military have increased street patrols all throughout the day nationwide to ensure that the curfew and social distance measures in open areas are met. He said the information on the extension of the curfew to 24 hours was fake news. The curfew hours continue to be from 5pm to 6am. No authority that is not the President of the Republic or the High Commission for the Prevention of the Coronavirus can modify that measure, he stated in his televised remarks to the nation on Monday, 30 March.
He said that last week most of the population showed to be aware of the responsibility for all to comply with the stay at home measures. He said the police and military will ensure that a small minority may not put at danger the health of all.
Read more in Spanish:
El Caribe
Presidencia
31 March 2020