Dear CoEd Family,
We hope you’re all doing well during this unprecedented time of the Coronavirus pandemic. Many of you have been asking about us and what is happening in Guatemala. This curious time has us all feeling separated and disconnected as many of us take to working from our home offices. And yet at the same time, it makes us feel strangely connected to the whole world, given that all of us, no matter what country, race, or economic status, are affected by this new reality. Thank you for your concerns and curiosity. Here are some recent highlights of what’s new in Guatemala as of March 18th:
- The first confirmed case of the Coronavirus was found on Friday, March 13th. There are currently six confirmed cases. The Ministry of Health and Social Assistance is leading case follow-up and statistics coordination in close coordination with the president.
- Public and private schools are closed for three weeks, as of March 16th.
- Foreigners are prohibited from entering the country and there will be obligatory quarantine for any national returning to the country.
- Currently, there are an estimated 3,000 tourists within Guatemala and they have 15 days to remain in the country.
- Sporting, cultural, and in-person religious activities are prohibited.
- Public transportation is suspended (e.g. buses).
- Shopping centers are closed.
- Hoarding of basic goods and medicines is prohibited.
- Dining in at restaurants is also prohibited.
- Work is prohibited in private sector and certain governmental agencies, except for basic services or unless you have written permission. (Telecommuting is encouraged.) Grocery stores, markets, small food stores, delivery and drive-thru restaurants, pharmacies, and gas stations should remain open. Telecommunication, energy, and agricultural companies, among other essential services should remain operating.
Guatemala was fortunate to be one of the later countries with any confirmed cases, and now the country is acting decisively with many restrictive measures to try to slow the acceleration curve of infections. (Perhaps this is not surprising, given that the newly elected president is a physician.) Right now, individuals that have tested positive and those that were on flights from high-exposure areas are being held in strict in-home quarantine. Additionally, the government has designated the Villa Nueva Hospital (just south of Guatemala City) especially for COVID-19 cases and a conference center (Parque de la Industria) is being set up as a temporary hospital to receive cases (up to 3,000 people).
We at CoEd are first and foremost assuring the safety of our staff, schools, and students. We are taking this time to plan and prepare for future teacher trainings, classroom coaching, and program activities when things return to normal, and our staff is working on professional development.
We are deeply conscious of how this pandemic may be affecting both the rural and urban poor of Guatemala, many of whom live on subsistence wages, and do not have sufficient savings to cover basic food and medicine. Many rural settings have the advantage of not being densely populated areas, and have access to food, and we hope this minimizes any community spread. Also, as we enter this 3rd week of March, we move into the warmest time of the year, and we can only hope that that helps in mitigating the spread of the Coronavirus.
Yet again with a health situation and pandemic like COVID-19, we see how important education is for all of us ― in being able to READ information that is shared, to understand the situation, the medical and health issues, to think critically about the different information that we receive, and to interpret the recommendations we are given. We know that more education translates directly to improved resilience in events like natural disasters and pandemics. We are inspired to continue the work that CoEd, and our friends and partners make possible in educating the marginalized youth in Guatemala.
More than ever, we are realizing that we live in a global community and each of us truly plays a part in our larger world. Our hope is that some good will come out of all of this ― more connectedness, more empathy, and a deeper care for the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters.
Thank you for your friendship, concern, and support,
Joe, Rony, Howard, and the whole CoEd Team
CoEd Team,
Thanks for the update. Good that Guatemala is definitely trying to get ahead of the curve, unlike the US Govt. Hopefully, the impact and cases will be mininal because the rural communities surely don’t have the resources.
Stay Safe.
Warm regards,
Skip Behrhorst
I have you all in my thoughts and prayers. Tha k you for sharing this news with us.
Warmest regards,
Linda
Thank you so much, Linda! We have you in our thoughts as well.
Hi, Skip. Thank you so much for your support of the people in Guatemala. We are hoping for the best. Stay safe!
Happy to hear of their swift action that will hopefully save many lives.
Hi, Bethany. We agree! Hope all is well with you!
Thanks so much for this information.
You’re welcome, Pat. We hope you are doing well! Wishing you all the best.
Thanks for the update! Your friends at the Dorothea Ross Foundation send their regards and concerns for the CoEd team and all of your beneficiaries. We know you’ll come up with great work-arounds and keep your important work on track.
Thank you, Ken! We are wishing you and everyone at the Dorothea Ross Foundation the very best during these difficult times. Thank you for everything you all do to support the world’s most vulnerable children, including those in Guatemala!
My young Guatemalan friend who lives in the Guatemala City area told me that they’re not allowed on the street at all, even to go for a walk. They can only go to the grocery from 12-2 pm. Of course, the grocery is jammed pack then. Not a good idea to prevent spreading the coronavirus. Hoarding is going on like it is here. Beans,eggs, toilet paper and other things are gone and prices are skyrocketing. This doesn’t sound like the same Guatemala that you’re talking about. Maybe his neighborhood is the exception. I hope so.
Do you have any suggestions for me to give him?
Thank you for your question and for supporting your friend in Guatemala City. We would just strongly advise him to stay updated on his local news, follow law enforcement orders, and try to stay positive while taking care of himself during such a time of uncertainty. Both our teams in the U.S. and Guate are focused on encouraging one another over video chat, phone calls, and texts as much as possible, so that no one feels alone. We truly hope your friend is able to get the supplies they need, while limiting contact with others… but we know this is easier said than done, in most places right now. Sending all our love and strength to both you, Mary Ann, and this friend.
Thank you so much for keeping connected and informed. Thank you for all you do and please stay safe….
Thank you, Susan! Stay safe and healthy too!