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After almost seven months, the International Friendship Bridge was reopened on Thursday (15). The border connects Cidade do Leste, in Paraguay, and Foz do Iguaçu, in western Paraná.
The Paraguayan government reaffirmed on the reopening, on Wednesday (14), and released a strict health protocol for the crossing of residents over the bridge. The statement was also published in the official Brazilian government newspaper on Wednesday night, but without many restrictions.
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According to the statement from the Paraguayan government, in the first 15 days, only vehicles can enter the country, from 5 am to 2 pm, with a return until 0 am.
The Brazilian government authorized foreigners to enter the country and also the other way around, but without the exact definition of vehicles or pedestrians. In the Brazilian decree, there is also no definition of the time to enter the bridge.
The decree of the Brazilian government, dated October 2, already allowed circulation between border municipalities, such as Foz do Iguaçu and Cidade do Leste, which are twin cities, but only if the neighboring country did the same, through the principle of reciprocity.
In Foz do Iguaçu, the International Friendship Bridge is closed on both sides – Photo: RPC Foz do Iguaçu
Paraguay’s borders have been closed since the end of March. At that time, Paraguayans who tried to return to the country were detained and then had to remain in isolation.
In May, the country began to relax the quarantine, but in Cidade do Leste, with more than 60,000 unemployed, the pressure was great to release the border crossing. In July there were protests and vandalism over the reopening.
Since then, the idea of freeing the border has gained momentum, so on Wednesday (14), Paraguay published a health protocol that establishes the reopening.
According to the city, Foz do Iguaçu has 79 ICU beds for patients with Covid-19 – Photo: Foz do Iguaçu City Council / Disclosure
The city of Foz do Iguaçu requested, on Tuesday (13), resources from the Ministry of Health in view of the possibility of reopening the International Friendship Bridge. The document was also presented to the government of Paraná, a day later.
The municipality’s proposal contemplates the expansion of 70 beds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), since the city expects Brazilians and Paraguayans, who are in the neighboring country, to seek medical attention in Foz do Iguaçu after it is released. the border, according to the deputy. Mayor, Nilton Bobato (MDB).
The contingency plan presented was formulated by the municipal committee, which studies future demands in the health area with a greater number of inhabitants in the city after the reopening of the bridge.
The municipality’s proposal to the Ministry of Health provides for the expansion of emergency care and detection services for patients with Covid-19, in addition to the implementation of a mobile health unit on the Brazilian side of Ponte da Amizade.
Resources for social assistance services were also requested in the plan. In total, the investment with the lawsuits would be more than R $ 40 million.
The city reported that, until the publication of this report, it was awaiting a response from the Ministry of Health on the contingency plan.
The bridge has been closed since March due to the new coronavirus pandemic – Photo: Renan Gouveia / RPC
According to the Municipal Health Department, as of Wednesday, Foz do Iguaçu registered 7,926 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 121 deaths from Covid-19.
The city has 196 active cases of the disease, of which 74 are hospitalized and 122 are isolated.
According to the city, so far, Foz do Iguaçu has 75 ICU beds for Covid-19 patients.
According to the Regional Hospital of Cidade do Leste, as of Wednesday, the municipality had registered 4,300 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 174 deaths from Covid-19.
The hospital director said that since the beginning of the pandemic health facilities have been expanded. The city’s hospital unit has 42 ICU beds, with an occupancy rate of 40%.
The state of Alto Paraná has 819 thousand inhabitants and 83 ICU beds. Of these residents, 305,000 live in Cidade do Leste, which is the capital of the department.
