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Guatemala: US deportations driving up COVID-19 cases
Source: Associated Press
Guatemala: US deportations driving up COVID-19 cases
By SONIA PÉREZ D.
April 14, 2020
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala’s health minister said Tuesday that deportees from the United States were driving up the country’s COVID-19 caseload, adding that on one flight some 75% of the deportees tested positive for the virus.
Health Minister Hugo Monroy’s comments were dramatically out of line with what the government had previously said about infected deportees. Later, presidential spokesman Carlos Sandoval told reporters that Monroy was referring to a March flight on which “between 50% and 75% (of the passengers) during all their time in isolation and quarantine have come back positive.”
Before Tuesday, Guatemala had only reported three positive infections among deportees flown back by the United States.
Joaquín Samayoa, spokesman for the foreign affairs ministry, confirmed a fourth positive case for a migrant who arrived on a flight Monday. At least three of the migrants who arrived Monday were taken directly to a hospital for COVID-19 testing.
President Alejandro Giammattei was scheduled to address the nation later and the government has said it would clarify the issue. Guatemala has only reported 162 total positive infections in the country and five deaths.
-snip-
By SONIA PÉREZ D.
April 14, 2020
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — Guatemala’s health minister said Tuesday that deportees from the United States were driving up the country’s COVID-19 caseload, adding that on one flight some 75% of the deportees tested positive for the virus.
Health Minister Hugo Monroy’s comments were dramatically out of line with what the government had previously said about infected deportees. Later, presidential spokesman Carlos Sandoval told reporters that Monroy was referring to a March flight on which “between 50% and 75% (of the passengers) during all their time in isolation and quarantine have come back positive.”
Before Tuesday, Guatemala had only reported three positive infections among deportees flown back by the United States.
Joaquín Samayoa, spokesman for the foreign affairs ministry, confirmed a fourth positive case for a migrant who arrived on a flight Monday. At least three of the migrants who arrived Monday were taken directly to a hospital for COVID-19 testing.
President Alejandro Giammattei was scheduled to address the nation later and the government has said it would clarify the issue. Guatemala has only reported 162 total positive infections in the country and five deaths.
-snip-
Read more: https://apnews.com/14a3406afdd3372c763ba96e9959b0c0
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