Prognosis

Chile Locks Down 20% of Population to Combat Second Virus Wave

  • Number of citizens under full lockdown jumps to 3.9m from 1.5m
  • Some analysts warn that measures could curb economic growth
A worker wearing a protective mask washes seafood at a stand inside a fish market in Santiago, ChilePhotographer: Cristobal Olivares/Bloomberg
Lock
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Chile’s government said it will more than double the number of municipalities under strict coronavirus lockdowns in coming days to combat a resurgence in the pandemic.

The number of municipalities under full lockdown will increase to 42 from 18, Health Minister Enrique Paris said in a televised press conference on Monday. Roughly 3.9 million of a total population of 18 million will now be living under those restrictions, Paris said.