During the week of March 22nd to 26th, 2021, 600 Covid-19 detection tests were conducted in the San Roque neighborhood of Bahía de Caráquez, Sucre canton, in the province of Manabí. Of the tests performed, the majority of people tested positive, reflecting a concerning situation.
The Kawayan group, composed of young individuals who have assisted in the reconstruction of Bahía de Caráquez, facilitated the procurement of these tests. Funding was provided by the Lions Club Quito Luz de América and the Sucre Club in Bahía.
Fundación Raíz Ecuador and our project Caemba commend Kawayan for their efforts in organizing this initiative. We have collaborated on various training courses and activities with the Kawayan group. We consider them as strategic allies in our work in the Sucre canton, specifically in the San Roque neighborhood of Bahía de Caráquez.
We are pleased that the youth of Kawayan demonstrate empathy for the residents of this area, as this empowers both them and the local community, particularly in an emergent situation like the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to El Universo, the Covid-19 pandemic is hitting the province of Manabí hard. The Cantonal Emergency Operations Committee (COE) of Sucre has decided to close the beaches of the canton for the next 30 days starting from Tuesday, March 23rd. Marcelo Hurtado, acting mayor of Sucre, also confirmed that the canton will move to red alert due to the increase in Covid-19 cases and deaths.
«We have to make a sacrifice for 30 days during this state, and then we can evaluate whether to continue or suppress it,» stated Hurtado, who is in charge of the municipality of Sucre after its mayor, Íngrid Zambrano, was diagnosed with coronavirus.
Although vehicular and pedestrian circulation will not be prohibited, all religious activities, caravans, or political campaigns in this canton have been canceled.
The increase in Covid-19 cases in Sucre is so significant that the local council has arranged with the National Risk Management Service for two 18-square-meter tents, each with four beds and screens, for the C health center (maternal and child), at the IESS hospital in Bahía de Caráquez, to attend to more patients with this condition.
«The hospitals are overwhelmed, many people are dying,» acknowledged Hurtado, who also mentioned that there will be sanctions for those who allow parties to take place in their homes.
