Collective quarantine declared in six states and in the Capital District to contain COVID-19

Starting this Monday, March 16, the collective quarantine phase will enter into force in six states and the Capital District as a measure of prevention and containment of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in Venezuela. The announcement was made by the President of the Republic, Nicolás Maduro, who explained that the measure will be effective from 5:00 in the morning in the states of Apure, Cojedes, La Guaira, Miranda, Zulia and Táchira, as well as in the Capital District. “We are going to take the first step in the areas where the highest incidence of this virus has been detected and precisely where the quarantine cases of flights arriving from Europe are distributed”, he said from the Presidential Command Post, installed in the Palace. Miraflores, located in Caracas. The quarantine excepts the food distribution chain, health services, police and military security, as well as the transport system “with the absolute obligation to demand the protection of the mask in its different forms”. “The social and collective quarantine is to stay at home”, said Maduro, who indicated that the way to stop the propagation channels of COVID-19 is to enter a progressive quarantine phase. He explained that the Comprehensive Community Health Areas (ASIC), Barrio Adentro I and II; The Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), Bolivarian National Police (PNB) and Bolivarian Militia will be in charge of ensuring compliance with the quarantine period. Likewise, he instructed the community councils and the Local Supply and Production Committee (Clap) to guarantee the full distribution of food in the communities. The Dignitary indicated that the quarantine will improve the mechanisms for the prevention and containment of the coronavirus, which is why he called for national unity to combat the pandemic in the country. “This is not collective vacations, it is a quarantine that deserves great social discipline, great self-control, great psychological, moral, and spiritual support to protect our senior adults”, he stressed. So far, Venezuela has registered 17 confirmed cases of COVID-19.