With 20% of the elderly population, Uruguay fears a devastating impact

With one in five inhabitants over the age of 60, one of the highest rates in the world, Uruguay fears that the coronavirus will have serious consequences for the country. For comparison, only 13% of Brazilians are elderly.

This Thursday, the 19th, the National Union of Doctors released a letter asking for the immediate start of mandatory confinement, just as Italy and Spain already do.

“We understand that the government's conduct in a crisis like this needs adjustments. It requires stronger leadership, stronger presence of health officials. It is necessary to change the way the decisions are being processed ”, says an excerpt.

So far, Uruguay has 79 cases, with the epidemic beginning on Friday 13. Among the cities already affected are the capital, Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, Colonia and Salto. According to the Ministry of Health, all patients are stable and have mild symptoms.

The Uruguayan government has been implementing a series of measures to curb the advance of Covid-19, such as the closure of all non-essential trade. Only pharmacies and supermarkets remain open.

But the authorities have yet to enact mandatory confinement for fear of the economic effects that such a decree will bring.