Guatemalan president bans most protests due to virus spread

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — The president of Guatemala has banned most protests for two weeks, arguing they have been spreading the coronavirus.

President Alejandro Giammattei's Cabinet approved the decree on Tuesday and it will go into effect Wednesday.

Protesters in recent weeks have demanded Giammattei's resignation, saying the government has mismanaged the coronavirus pandemic and botched efforts to get vaccines.

There have been delays in shipments of Russia's Sputnik vaccine, even though Guatemala paid half up front.

It is the latest of more than a dozen decrees that Giammattei has issued to temporarily limit constitutional rights, and even Vice President Guillermo Castillo says enough is enough.

“We need states of vaccination, not a state of emergency,” Castillo told The Associated Press.

“Rather than limiting constitutional rights, what the government should do is get more vaccines.”

The president's office said open-air demonstrations by people wearing face masks and practicing social distancing will be allowed, but police may break up any protest if they judge it violates any of those rules or presents a public health risk.

The measures also include a night-time ban on alcohol sales starting at 6:00 p.m., and a ban on driving without a face mask.

A crowd of about 300 protesters gathered Saturday in the main square of the capital to demand the resignation of Giammattei, and on Monday banners appeared on several streets in Guatemala City demanding he go.

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