Venezuela, South Africa agree on bilateral exchange to jointly address COVID-19

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Republic of South Africa agreed to exchange experts, doctors and scientists to jointly address COVID-19. The agreement was reached during a meeting via video conference between Venezuela’s and South Africa’s Health Ministers Carlos Alvarado and Zweli Mkhize. “There are many coincidences in the way we have addressed COVID-19, especially in the community component,” said Minister Alvarado, who stressed the creation of a Presidential Commission to manage the pandemic in both countries. In Venezuela where the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,121 on Sunday, the epidemiological curve remains flattened, with a 17% morbidity rate, a 0.3% fatality rate and a recovery rate of more than 45%. 98% of all cases have been asymptomatic featuring mild clinical conditions. Notwithstanding, Colombia’s and Brazil’s poor management of the pandemic has become the main challenge for Venezuela, asserted Alvarado. “We have shared Venezuela’s methodology in its two phases, and we have discussed the importance of broad, personalized testing ordered by President Nicolás Maduro,” he added. During the talks, both parties also agreed on a joint statement calling for universal and free access to vaccines and medicines in the world’s bilateral and multilateral spaces. Minister Zweli Mkhize ratified South Africa’s support to Venezuela, and reaffirmed his country rejects and condemns the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the U.S. on Caracas and violations against Venezuela’s sovereignty. Presidents Nicolás Maduro and Cyril Ramaphosa held a telephone conversation by late April to share their assessment on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures implemented in their countries to contain the virus.