Covid-19 in Latin America

Chile

Like much of Latin America, the pandemic reached Chile when the wealthy returned from vacations in the US and Europe. Initially, the government responded with “dynamic quarantines” of the wealthy districts where the first outbreaks occurred. This targeted approach was ineffective because residents quickly infected their domestic employees, who subsequently introduced the virus into their respective communities.

As numbers started to rise, the government increased the availability of intensive care beds and ventilators, but the virus spread aggressively in the absence of widespread community testing and mandatory isolation. By June, Chile had one of the world’s highest confirmed infection rates. Although a general lockdown of the economy reduced mortality, it triggered mass unemployment (11%)6 and a 7.5% decline in gross domestic product (GDP).7 The government is providing cash support, food, and low cost credit to small businesses, but these measures are yet to meet the needs of most workers and their families.8

Mexico

When covid-19 arrived in early 2020,9 the government declared it an insignificant threat for Mexicans. Some states acted independently and successfully flattened their curve, while others have seen their hospitals overwhelmed. Initial tensions between national and local governments hampered a coordinated response, and the high prevalence of poverty and chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity meant deaths were not restricted to the high risk elderly population.10 Although the government has increased social assistance programmes, they are not sufficient to replace livelihoods for the large number of informal workers. A traffic light colour scheme was developed to indicate infection risk and guide reopening of the economy. Until recently, all states were red.

Central America and the Caribbean

In Guatemala, the government rapidly locked down the entire country after the first confirmed case in mid-March. However, with 75% of workers employed informally, many were forced to choose between losing wages and protecting their health, despite some government aid.11 The result was over 1000 deaths by mid-July. Cuba also acted swiftly and achieved better control with a community based response and a national emergency plan for border closures, testing, tracing, isolation, and risk communication.12 Cuba just celebrated no deaths in the past week³ and has begun to reopen tourism. Elsewhere, the Nicaraguan government denied the pandemic threat, and the real burden of infections and deaths remains unknown.13

As the pandemic progresses across Latin America three important policy considerations have emerged. Firstly, national leadership and coordination with local governments are paramount, together with clear and trusted communication of risks and measures such as distancing, face coverings, and handwashing. Secondly, countries must deal with asynchronous waves of transmission within their borders by implementing widespread testing, tracing, and isolation of contacts without police repression; isolating sick and elderly people; and ensuring continuity of basic health services, including telemedicine. Thirdly, governments must provide adequate short and medium term financial protection for people in need, with measures such as direct cash transfers to buy food and delaying or waiving payment for essential utilities.

Above all, Latin American governments must act decisively to protect their populations against covid-19 while taking extreme measures to prevent an economic collapse that would exacerbate the region’s pre-existing struggle against poverty and inequality.