Hello Community, I hope everyone is well and safe at home.
As everyone knows the topic of the moment is the recent Sars-Cov-2 virus, or by its most known name Covid-19, which produces an acute respiratory syndrome and has spread around the world, which is why several countries have declared a state of emergency, implementing quarantine as the best prevention and control measure against this booming pathogen.

Venezuela is known worldwide for its socio-economic and political problems, the same ones that at the moment make living in this country almost unsustainable. Since March 15, the current president decreed a state of sanitary emergency, ordering the implementation of quarantine in all the national territory. But was Venezuela ready to stop it self? No, it wasn't. And in this post I am going to tell you a little about the problems that plague the Venezuelan during this pandemic, so much so that the Covid-19 seems to be the last of his concerns.

Photo by Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

Economic instability

Venezuela is a country with exorbitant inflation, for 2019 had an inflation of 7,000%. For those who don't understand numbers (like me), it means that today in the morning you bought a product at one price, and today in the afternoon you come back for the same product and the price is higher. Every day Venezuelans find themselves with a changing economic system, where 100 salaries are needed to supply themselves with the basic basket for 1 month. It's insane.

In Covid-19 times, the Venezuelan was called to stay home, but most people live daily, if they don't work they don't get paid, if they don't get paid, they don't eat. This is why there are thousands of people on the street every day, trying to earn a living, leaving the dreaded covid-19 in the background.

Gasoline

That's right, although we are talking about an oil country, Venezuela does not have Gasoline. This represents one of the biggest concerns at the moment, without gasoline there are no ambulances working, there is no public transportation to get to work, there is no transfer of food or supplies to supermarkets or pharmacies in the communities. Because of this the queues at the gas stations have become endless, even of days, and without guarantee that you can fill your tank. The Venezuelans have then returned to use the bicycles and to mobilize on foot. Again, it seems unimportant to take care of yourself against the virus when you do not have the ways to move around, and you must find a way to meet the basic needs of the Venezuelan family.

The Health system

Due to the same situation in Venezuela, its rulers have neglected to maintain a system as important as the health system. Venezuelan doctors struggle daily to give the best treatment to patients with the few supplies they have. Within this area we have 2 problems, one is the lack of medications in general for people with significant comorbidities for this virus, and the other is the lack of adequate protective equipment for medical practitioners in charge of treating cases. Basically, the Venezuelan is defenseless against major diseases and against this highly important pathogen.

Photo by SJ Objio on Unsplash

Safety equipment

Due to the lack of medical supplies in Venezuela, people have only the use of face masks to defend themselves against the coronavirus, since very little hygiene products adequate to the suggested regulations are obtained. In fact, the required facemasks for the pandemic are very little available, and if it is achieved, the price is inaccessible to simple mortals who live day by day. This is why the Venezuelan has chosen to use fabric masks, constantly reuse them and stick to his favorite saint, to try to stop what seems inevitable in such precarious conditions.

Photo by Alin Luna on Unsplash

Faced with these problems, the Venezuelan's greatest weapon is that the one who does not require leaving should stay at home. And the one who must go out in order to bring supplies to the house, needs to take care of themselves and maintain the security measures suggested by the health entities; and once at home, comply with the decontamination method with the help of the family. Always appealing to divine help, which at this time is not a bad idea

Hoping that this post is to your liking, until next time
kisses, Albany