Pura Vida Ministries
Creating a brighter future
for children in Guatemala
  • ABOUT US
    • Mission
    • Finances
    • Staff
    • Board
    • Contact Us
  • PROGRAMS
    • Student Sponsorship >
      • Sponsor Now
      • Why Education?
      • Program Details
      • Sponsorship FAQ
      • Resources
      • Unsponsored Student Fund
    • Guatemala Work Trips >
      • Work Trips
      • Work Trip FAQ
    • Christmas Milk
    • Water Purification
    • Volunteer
  • NEWS
    • Newsletters
    • Project Photos
    • Trip Photos
    • Blog
    • Calendar
  • DONATE
  • PORTAL

COVID-19 Pandemic update

5/21/2021

 
by Mark Ely​
As I write this, Guatemala is still experiencing very high rates of COVID-19 infection.  The state of Quiche, where our work takes place, is currently in Orange alert status.  The capital, Santa Cruz del Quiche, has spent a lot of time in the Red status, the highest. 

The CDC rates incidence of infection in Guatemala at the highest level, “Level 4: Very High”.  This is probably due to reduction of virus mitigation measures over the last few months.
Picture
Status as of May 21, 2021
Picture
Many restrictions lifted

The Guatemalan government’s mandatory curfew was lifted on September 30.  There are no restrictions on intercity or interstate travel.  The Government of Guatemala announced January 25 the following changes to the operating hours of commercial establishments;
  • Public markets may operate from 5AM to 5PM daily
  • Retail establishments, including shopping malls, stores and supermarkets may operate until 7PM daily
  • Bars, restaurants and night clubs may operate until 9PM daily

Impact on Education

This is the only area in Guatemala still significantly affected by restrictions.  In Red alert status, in-person schooling is not permitted.   Until recently, students from rural communities at the Orange level attended in-person classes twice a week.  That changed when the government decided that that should not be allowed at the Orange level either.  So remote learning will continue for most institutions in 2021 as long as high infection rates persist.  
Vaccination update

The Government of Guatemala received its first delivery of vaccine doses in February.  Priority will be given to healthcare workers, first responders, and vulnerable populations.  Volunteer firemen/paramedics and health care workers are currently being vaccinated.

Guatemala is receiving vaccines through COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX), a global platform to support the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. It was launched in April 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO).  COVAX seeks to solve the problem of the unequal global distribution of vaccines.

81,600 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are the first of a total of 6.6 million doses that Guatemala expects to receive this year through COVAX, to reach its goal of immunizing 20% of the population. 

On May 4, the country began Phase 2 vaccinations, which include individuals in the 65+ age range.  They are hoping to open that to 60+ soon. 

When can our groups safely return to Guatemala?

Unlike many countries at the moment, the only entry requirements for Guatemala is a negative COVID-19 test within a certain timeframe.  So the bar is low, and just about anyone can go to Guatemala right now if they want to.  But the question is, should we?

The Guatemalan government appears to have pretty much given up on any sort of pandemic mitigation effort.  In our opinion, that puts the responsibility squarely on visitors -- i.e., is traveling down there right now worth the risk of transmitting the virus to people that have become like family to us?  The population we work with is especially vulnerable due to poor health and nutrition, basic living conditions, and almost nonexistent healthcare.  It doesn't seem worth the risk, especially since we're currently getting our work done without putting people at risk.

Travel, especially international travel, was a key mechanism responsible for the rapid global spread of this virus.  Our current thinking is that a bare minimum requirement for a team to return to Guatemala is that everyone be fully vaccinated at least a month prior to departure.  There are still a lot of question marks.


    Archives

    January 2025
    September 2024
    July 2024
    February 2024
    March 2023
    April 2022
    December 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    December 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    July 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    July 2018
    February 2018
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

    Older Posts

    Posts from 2010 - 2015

    Categories

    All
    From The Board Of Directors
    Scholarship Program
    Special Notices
    Trips

    RSS Feed

    Copyright © 2025 Pura Vida Ministries
PO Box 843 Salida, CO 81201