Santiago de Chile (AFP)
Chile crossed the barrier of 500,000 coronavirus contaminations on Saturday, on the eve of a historic referendum on a change in the Constitution, for which a strict health protocol will be applied.
"We are going to have to show a lot of responsibility for this referendum," said Health Under-Secretary Paula Daza at a press conference when the daily contamination report was announced.
According to health authorities, 1,631 new cases and 48 additional deaths have been recorded in the past 24 hours, bringing the total toll to 500,542 proven cases, including 13,892 fatalities in this country of 18 million inhabitants.
In recent months, the contagion curve has stabilized, with occasional outbreaks, currently in the south and far south of the country.
Sunday, 14 million Chileans are called to the polls to say yes or no to a change in the Constitution, to replace the current one inherited from the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) and accused by the protesters of the last months of slowing down the reforms for more social justice.
A strict health protocol has been put in place for the poll: polling stations will be open for longer, from 8 a.m. local (11 a.m. GMT) to 8 p.m., and voters over 60 will have priority at certain times.
The polling centers have been subject to careful disinfection, physical distancing and the mask will be mandatory.
Voters are also invited to bring their own pen with them which they will use to tick the box corresponding to their choice to answer two questions: "Do you want a new Constitution?"
and "Which body will have to write the new Constitution?",
They will be able to choose between a "Constitutional Mixed Convention" made up of elected citizens and parliamentarians, and a "Constituent Convention" made up entirely of citizens.
© 2020 AFP