Covid-19: Uruguay completes 5 consecutive days with no deaths (September 7)

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – For the first time since last year, Uruguay has reached 5 consecutive days with no Covid-19 deaths. Some 113 new cases were detected this Tuesday, while 2 weeks ago the figures stood at around 80 daily infections.

According to the SINAE (National Emergency System), based on Ministry of Public Health data, 75 infections were detected in the country’s capital city. The remainder are distributed across the interior of Uruguay. The total number of deaths from the virus in the country stands at 6,034.

Of the 1,426 people with the disease, 15 are currently in intensive care units. Compared to figures two weeks ago, the ratio between infections and intensive care admissions is lower, with fewer people in this situation than when infection figures were even lower.

The encouraging figures may be explained by Uruguay’s successful vaccination program. Some 73.1% of the population has been vaccinated.

Uruguay is in the yellow zone of the Harvard index with 5 of its 19 departments in the green zone, maintaining an average of between 1 and 10 new daily cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Due to the encouraging figures, Uruguay allowed borders to gradually reopen. On September 1, it began by allowing entry to foreigners with properties in the country. In a second phase, from November 1, it will allow entry to foreigners who have been vaccinated and have performed a PCR test with a negative result 72 hours before arrival. More than 600 applications to enter the country were received on the first day Uruguay reopened its borders.

Domestically, Luis Lacalle Pou’s government has reopened the cultural sector and public shows with and without dancing. The protocol established to this end is the so-called “responsible pass” or “green pass,” whereby people undergo antigen tests or show vaccination certificates to access an event.

In addition, protocols have been prepared for venues where parties are to be held. After the first test enabling massive celebrations on the so-called “Night of Nostalgia,” a date on which Uruguayans go out to dance to 80s music across the country, there were few outbreaks of Covid-19 and only in clandestine parties.

Measures such as carnival rehearsals, in-person office work and medical consultations have also been enabled.