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Guatemala

The President of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, announced on May 1^st, the beginning of the first phase to the «reopening» of the country after 50 days in quarantine on May 3^rd. The president’s provision maintains the curfew in force from 6 in the afternoon to 4 in the morning, but also contemplates «the development of a general protocol for the reopening of public transport in “staggered phases», This new strategy will allow shops, construction and manufacturing companies to restart their activities.

The Guatemalan Congress approved a law called Decree 15-20, which guarantees the distribution of basic services. The new mandate is backed up by telecommunications and electric power businessmen as well as representatives of the country’s municipalities, their support it’s really important because it publicly assures that services such as telephone, electricity and water will not be cut due to COVID-19.[6]

Giammattei, informed that he gave powers to his government entities to authorize the purchase or contracting of goods or supplies from importation, this new permit it’s contemplated for every element that helps to combat the negative effects of coronavirus. In the same statement he pointed out that it is mandatory for the institutions of the health as well as the community in general, to cooperate according to international regulations and national medical measures to continue preventing the spread of the disease and thereby mitigate the impact of the virus.[7]

[6] La Prensa Grafica. 2020. Guatemala inicia la reapertura tras el confinamiento por COVID-19. May 03. Accessed May 04, 2020. https://www.laprensagrafica.com/internacional/Guatemala-inicia-la-reapertura-tras-el-confinamiento-por-COVID-19-20200503-0043.html.

[7] Milenio, 2020. Guatemala extiende estado de emergencia un mes más por el covid-19. April 29. Accessed May 04, 2020. https://www.milenio.com/internacional/coronavirus-guatemala-extiende-estado-de-emergencia-por-covid-19.