Puerto Rico extends lockdown to May to fight COVID-19

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s governor announced Saturday that the US territory will remain on lockdown until May 3 to curb coronavirus cases, marking one of the strictest measures taken in a US jurisdiction.

Governor Wanda Vázquez said non-essential businesses will remain closed and that people have to remain indoors from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., leaving outside those hours only to buy food or medicine or go to the bank.

However, she lifted all license plate restrictions and said hardware stores and car repair shops can operate twice a week on limited schedules.

Everyone is still required to wear a face mask to enter any business as Health Secretary Lorenzo González warned that the peak of cases is not expected until early May.

“We cannot lower our guard,” he said.

“We have not seen the worst of it.”

Puerto Rico has reported more than 780 confirmed cases and at least 42 deaths, including that of a paediatrician and of a couple of people in their early 40s with no prior health conditions.

More than 1,300 test results are pending, and nearly 900 police officers have been placed in isolation after being exposed to COVID-19.

Meanwhile, critics say the government does not have an accurate picture of how many COVID-19 cases exist in Puerto Rico since there has been no widespread testing.

Some 7,700 people have been tested on an island of 3.2 million people.

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