The República Oriental del Uruguay, to award it its full name is in south eastern South America south west of Brazil. Argentina lies to its west. While it nestles between Río de la Plata to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. Its 3.5 million people enjoy a high ranking for personal rights, tolerance, and inclusion. Perhaps this explains Uruguay’s laid back answer to COVID-19.
The Numbers Back Uruguay’s Laid Back Answer to COVID-19
We have impressive data as we write, and it comes live to us from Worldometer. Uruguay has recorded a scant 956 cases, and 28 deaths from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Some 849 people have recovered, leaving a virtual handful of 79 active cases, of which one is critical.
Reuters confirms Uruguay’s laid back answer to COVID-19 has been highly successful. In fact, there have been no deaths from the disease since May 23, 2020, a situation the government regards as ‘under control’. The economy is accordingly easing open with staggered school reopening. They like to call themselves ‘The New Zealand of South America’.
How Uruguay Achieved and Maintains this Remarkable Situation
The word that springs to mind is voluntary cooperation in line with social culture. Reuters describes this as a combination of voluntary quarantine, widespread monitoring, and infection tracing. The government also introduced randomized tests, and uses models to forecast disease spread in different parts of the country.
The Uruguay people have responded well to Uruguay’s laid back answer to COVID-19. Only a handful of intensive care beds for COVID-19 patients have occupants. However, there is a shadow looming across the northern border with Brazil, where a very different situation in unfolding.
The border city of Rivera is experiencing an uptick of cases, and this is worrying Uruguayan government officials. However, down south the people are celebrating their success they achieved together. Let’s hope things remain that way in the laid back República Oriental del Uruguay.
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