Coronavirus El Salvador. As of today, April 1st 2020, El Salvador has had a total of 32 cases of coronavirus or COVID-19. From the 32 cases, 31 are still active, and one passed away on March 31st.
From the 32 total cases in El Salvador, 3 were found locally, 2 from the department of Santa Ana, and 1 from the department of Usulutan.
The remaining 29 cases are from individuals arriving from other countries that include the USA, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Panama, Colombia, France, Guatemala, and Canada.
The country remains under quarantine, this is to prevent the virus from spreading. Also, the government advises that people stay at home as much as possible.
| Total | Active | Recovered | Deaths | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belize | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Guatemala | 39 | 26 | 12 | 1 |
| El Salvador | 32 | 31 | 0 | 1 |
| Honduras | 172 | 159 | 3 | 10 |
| Nicaragua | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Costa Rica | 347 | 341 | 4 | 2 |
| Panama | 1181 | 1142 | 9 | 30 |
| Totals | 1779 | 1706 | 28 | 45 |
The latest information.
March 31th, 2020.
The Salvadoran Autonomous Executive Port Commission or CEPA, announced today March 31st, that the International Airport will continue to be closed until April 19, 2020. Only cargo and humanitarian planes are allowed.
Also, today the country reported its first death due to COVID-19.
Main recommendations of the Salvadoran Government.
The main recommendations of the Salvadoran Government at this moment are as follow:
- Practice separation, avoid crowds.
- Wash your hands often.
- Stay at home, only go out when you have to.
- Save on energy and water.
The goal of the administration is to prevent crowds of people from gathering in public places. Therefore, reducing the possibility of the virus from spreading.
Obviously, they also recommend following all health recommendations set by the Salvadoran health minister.
Nayib Bukele and his Administration.
Since the beginning of the outbreak, President Nayib Bukele and his administration have demonstrated a readiness to prevent the coronavirus from getting to El Salvador. And now that the country has coronavirus, they are implementing steps to prevent the virus from spreading.
Some of you might disagree with some of the decisions the president and his administration have taken thus far. The government decisions have affected everyday life for many Salvadorans, especially those traveling.
The following timeline will illustrate significant events and the president’s decisions. These administrative decisions made by the president and his cabinet lead me to believe that he is making the right decisions when it comes to COVID-19.
March 30th, 2020.
Today the country reported two new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total active cases to 32.
March 29th, 2020.
Today the country reported six new cases of Covid-19, bringing the total active cases to 30.
Also, the Salvadoran General Assembly voted to restring certain rights of Salvadorans, such as the right to freely move and assemble for 15 days. This is to give the president more power to fight against the virus.
March 28th, 2020.
Today El Salvador reports five new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 24.
March 27th, 2020.
Today the president Announced that El Salvador has four new cases of coronavirus, bringing the total cases to 19.
From the 19 active cases, two are homegrown cases, and the other 17 imported from other countries.
March 26th, 2020.
Today, El Salvador reported no new cases of coronavirus.
The Salvadoran General Assembly approved a 2 billion dollar stimulus package to help the economy.
March 25th, 2020.
Tonight, the vice minister of health Francisco Alabi confirms four new cases of COVID19 in El Salvador. With these new cases, it brings the total infected to thirteen.
Two of the cases are Salvadorans who came from Italy, but one came before the restrictions came into force, it was later that it entered quarantine.
The others are from a family group who were in contact with someone who came from the USA.
He also reiterated that it is important for the population to abide by the mandatory home quarantine measures.
March 24th, 2020.
Today, the vice minister of health, Francisco Alabi, alongside Carlos Garzón, offered a press conference to report on 4 new cases of coronavirus in El Salvador.
Two of the individuals arrived from the US, one from Canada, and one from Guatemala.
Vice-minister Francisco Alabi assured that the four people are asymptomatic.
March 23, 2020.
Today, the vice minister of health, Francisco Alabi, confirmed two more positive cases of coronavirus.
The patients traveled from Italy and stopped in Mexico, before making their way to El Salvador.
The good news is that they were both put into quarantine since their arrival in El Salvador.
With these two cases, the country has a total of five active cases of this disease.
March 22, 2020.
Today was the first day of the 30-day quarantine set by the government, about 269 people were detained for violating the quarantine.
Quote from President Bukele:
“These 269 people were going to spend the 30 days of quarantine in their homes and with their families. Now they will start day 1 of 30 in Containment Centers surrounded by strangers. Be smart and respect quarantine. It is for your health, your life, and that of others.”
President Bukele informed us that all the tests done today were negative; that is good news for the first day of quarantine.
March 21th, 2020.
In today’s press conference, President Nayib Bukele announced that there have been no new confirmed cases of Coronavirus.
Also, starting today, the government decided to decree a complete household quarantine throughout the national territory for 30 days.
People will be allowed to leave their homes, only for specific reasons, anyone not following this decree will be taken to a detention center.
These are some exceptions to circulate: one person per family to buy groceries, and also the people who are going to continue working so that the country can function. Individuals working in transportation and food activities with the delivery service will be able to work.
Additionally, media workers are included among the exceptions to movement during the home quarantine, banks will remain open. Also, medical personnel, pharmaceutical companies, agriculture, and livestock farmers will continue to operate.
Bukele said that we don’t want supermarkets or underserved markets; therefore, cargo carriers are also exempt from restrictions on movement during the home quarantine.
President Bukele also announced that there will be economic benefits for the families affected by the new measures.
President Bukele announced that people who consume up to 250 kilowatts per month will receive a transfer of US $ 300 during the mandatory home quarantine that begins tonight.
March 20th, 2020.
Today the country reported two more cases of coronavirus that bring the total to three. The good news is the two people were already under quarantine; therefore, the likelihood of others infected is low.
Also, president Nayib Bukele announced the first measures that the Government is promoting to face the crisis generated by the coronavirus; click here to examine the measures. All of these measures have to be approved by the General Assembly.
March 19th, 2020.
Today, the Salvadoran government ordered that all shopping centers throughout the country be closed for 14 days; this order could be extended following the behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the city of Metapan is still under quarantine as health officials look for anyone who was in contact with the patient.
March 18, 2020.
Today, President Nayib Bukele announced that El Salvador has the first confirmed case of coronavirus or COVID-19. Additionally, he took the following steps today to help with the coronavirus crisis.
- prices of basic food items and health products are to be set by the government; anyone caught charging more will have their business closed and products impound.
- Suspension of all payments of electricity, water, personal loans, mortgages, and credit cards for three months.
- Call centers are to be closed, but employees will be paid.
March 17th, 2020.
President Bukele orders that the international airport is to be closed for 15 days. Only cargo planes and humanitarian planes will be allowed to land or leave. As of today, the country has no confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Also, construction of a large hospital at the International Center of Fairs and Conventions El Salvador or CIFCO continues as planned.
March 15th, 2020.
The Salvadoran General Assembly approves the president’s request and declares a state of exception, which gives the president more powers.
President Bukele orders that anyone over 60 and any women pregnant to stay and work from home. Additionally, all gyms are to be closed for 14 days, and all dental services will be stopped. Lastly, all gathering will have a maximum of 50 people.
March, 14th, 2020
The Salvadoran general assembly approves the president’s request and declares a state of emergency.
President Bukele prohibits the gathering of more than 75 people, except for workplaces, people in circulation, and bus terminals. Additionally, he states that bars and clubs are to be closed for 14 days.
March, 13th, 2020.
The coronavirus increases in Italy, also, there are more than 129 thousand infected in the world. Furthermore, in Central America, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama, and Costa Rica have confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Nayib Bukele requests to declare a state of exception throughout the country; this is something the Salvadoran General Assembly has to approve.
March, 11th, 2020.
The Pan American Health Organization declares coronavirus as PANDEMIC; cases of COVID-19 in El Salvador is 0.
So, Nayib Bukele declares a quarantine throughout the country; it prohibits the entry of foreigners for 21 days, also all school activities, and massive shows are suspended.
March, 9th, 2020.
President Bukele prohibits the entrance from anyone arriving from Spain. All other preventive measures remain the same.
March, 7th, 2020.
Germany and France become the 5th and 6th countries with the most cases of coronavirus in the world. Immediately, Bukele orders to prohibit the entry of people from these countries.
March, 2nd, 2020.
The Europen Union increases the risk level from moderate to high. Nayib Bukele and the health cabinet increase the sanitization of the El Salvador International Airport; also, control measures at border points and training, continues.
March, 1st, 2020.
Around the world, more than 80,000 persons are infected with the virus. Also, about 2,900 have died due to the virus. President Bukele once again reinforces its strategy to prevent COVID-19 from entering the country.
February, 28th, 2020.
Iran reports 34 deaths related to coronavirus. Iran becomes the country with the highest number of deaths from this virus outside of Mainland China. Immediately, President Bukele prohibits the entry of people from Iran.
February, 26th, 2020.
The first case of COVID19 or coronavirus is confirmed in Brazil; this being the first in Latin America, and the first possible case is investigated in the USA.
February, 25th, 2020.
Immediately after Italy became the most affected country in Europe, the President orders the Salvadoran immigration to the ban on the entry of people from South Korea and Italy. Also, diplomats and compatriots from those countries would be sent to quarantine for 30 days.
February, 24th, 2020.
Italy became the most affected country in Europe. Also, on this day, the US stock market collapsed due to fears of COVID-19, the Dow Jones Industrial Average experienced the worst day in two years.
February, 2020.
The coronavirus continued to spread to more countries, most of which did not take restriction measures and only tried to contain the outbreak. However, in El Salvador, anyone arriving from China was already quarantined; additionally, the government’s controls and training were permanently maintained.
January 30th, 2020.
The World Health Organization declares the outbreak of the coronavirus or COVID-19 and international emergency. At this point, Nayib Bukele’s health cabinet has already been implementing measures and training personal for about 16 days to prevent the virus from reaching the country.
January 26th, 2020.
The Chinese government reports its first death by COVID-19, while El Salvador already had controls at its air and land borders to detect any possible case of the virus. Also, training in government institutions continues daily.
January 25th, 2020.
As China struggles to contain the virus, the government of Nayib Bukele is already training personnel from public institutions on how to use specialized equipment. All this is done in preparation for the coronavirus reaching the country.
January 25th, 2020.
Chinese president Xi Jinping calls the accelerated spread of COVID-19 a serious situation; this is done at a meeting with the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party.
January 23rd, 2020.
On this day, the Chinese government placed the entire city of Wuhan with its 11 million people in quarantine. All types of transportation out of the city, such as flights, trains, and ferries, are canceled.
January 16th, 2020.
Japan has confirmed its first case of pneumonia caused by a new coronavirus from China; the source is Japan times newspaper.
On the same day, Japan reported its first Coronavirus case; President Nayib Bukele activates the Salvadoran health cabinet to prepare and get ready; this is way before the Pan American Health Organization declares an emergency.
Coronavirus El Salvador. My point of view.
Personally, I believe that President Nayib Bukele has done a fantastic job when it comes to handling this pandemic.
After all, when the crisis is concluded, and we know everything that transpired. Everyone, including me, is going to judge the president and his administration for everything, the good and the bad.
There are a lot of people who don’t like him or the way he is governing; nonetheless, it is difficult to say that he has failed so far when it comes to this issue.
To sum up, some of you might disagree with how I see things, I hope that at the end of this crisis, El Salvador is a country with no cases of COVID-19.
