Source:
https://www.eldiario.es/society/Guatemala-muertes-COVID-19-deceso-hombre_0_1023297680.html
Guatemala adds 17 deaths from COVID-19 after the death of a 39-year-old man
EFE - Guatemala
05/03/2020 - 04: 14h
Guatemala adds 17 deaths from COVID-19 after the death of a 39-year-old man
The Central American country has been ceasing work since March 16 and under a curfew since March 22 on the orders of the president, invested last January. EFE
With the death today of a 39-year-old man, those killed by COVID-19 in Guatemala rose to 17, a country that accounts for 688 infections since the first case was detected on March 13.
The Guatemalan President, Alejandro Giammattei, announced the death of the man on the national chain and also confirmed 44 new cases of the coronavirus detected in the last 24 hours.
According to the president, the death was registered in the Guatemalan Social Security facilities and not in any of the six emergency hospitals set up in the country for those with COVID-19.
Giammattei positively valued the number of cases for every million inhabitants, "we have 37 cases for every million inhabitants," said the governor.
"If we compare these data with the rest of the countries that surround us, we will find that to the north in Mexico, that figure exceeds 170 cases per million, up to Panama, which exceeds 1,700 cases per million," he added.
The 64-year-old president, doctor and surgeon, explained that 517 tests were carried out in the last 24 hours and warned that on Sunday "there will be new provisions" for the population.
The Central American country has been ceasing work since March 16 and under a curfew since March 22 on the orders of the president, invested last January.
However, about 70 percent of the 7 million economically active Guatemalans live on temporary or casual jobs, so many of them go out daily to earn something to support their families.
In addition, private companies are authorized to work as long as they get private transportation for their employees.
According to data released this week by opposition deputy Samuel P?rez from the Semilla group, more than 700,000 people have lost their jobs since work was officially halted.
The peak of the disease in Guatemala is expected in the first weeks, according to Giammattei this week, although experts consider that it could be in June.
The use of a mask was made mandatory in the Central American country from April 13, just one month after the first case was detected on March 13, a man in his 30s from Europe
Most of the infections (59%) have been detected in the central region of the country, made up of the departments of Guatemala, Chimaltenango and Sacatep?quez, according to data from this Saturday.
The authorities of the Ministry of Health have confirmed only two community cases or local transmission of the total of 688 infected people.
The highest number of infections in a single day for Guatemala was registered nine days ago, with 46 new cases on April 24.