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  • Pandemic: Nicolás Maduro bets on a Cuban drug to fight the coronavirus

"Here we go with science, wisdom, ancient knowledge, that integrate the good of the human being. We have to make daily decisions to protect the people." Venezuela is experiencing the world pandemic at the pace set by Nicolás Maduro, turned into many things at once: scientist and visionary, repressor and guide. Pushed, in his own words, "by the infinite love we feel for the country."

His latest decision has greatly surprised the world of science, by ordering that chloroquine be administered to patients, relatives, closest contacts and health personnel "on a prophylactic basis and orally."

Chloroquine is an antimalarial drug currently used against coronavirus, in combination with other antivirals and antibiotics, but with strong contraindications when misused. The oil country has suffered half a million cases of malaria in the past year, more than half of the entire continent. For several moments since this disease was unleashed, especially in the area of ​​the gold mines, chloroquine was rationed or difficult to find. Both Donald Trump and the French authorities have initially bet on the use of this drug .

So far, Venezuela only recognizes 77 positive cases, although Juan Guaidó, president-in-charge, raises the figure above 200. "We have reduced the number of infections by carrying out the measures to 3% , we had at least 2,100 cases. We have flattened the contagion curve, "said the" president people, "the first in Latin America to order social quarantine, forced by the destruction of hospitals and the dismantling of public services during his term.

The 'radicalization' of the quarantine entails the compulsory use of masks for everyone and the extension of "personalized screening" through the country card, the social control tool designed with Chinese technology. In his appearance on Sunday, dressed in the Barça tracksuit jacket, Maduro wore the mask, but soon removed it.

Another of the most controversial theories of the Bolivarian chief is the one that ensures that the 77 cases are all imported, 21 of them from Spain. A statement that contradicts reality, starting with the Argentine diplomat with six months of stay in the country or with a community doctor installed in the interior of Venezuela.

"Maduro tries to impose his story, his version of events, quite childish indeed, in which all cases are imported because in Venezuela no one is infected thanks to the quarantine and efficiency of the regime," protests opposition leader Ramón Boy. .

A version, which as has been the custom for two decades, goes to the conspiracy to explain reality. From the first moment, Maduro accused the United States of having designed a biological weapon against the people and against China. In the last few hours, he has introduced a couple of Venezuelan gurus with outlandish theories, who mix herbal teas against the "bacterial parasite" and strange cancer cures.

The class struggle is also present in the pandemic that has paralyzed the world. In his speeches, Maduro insists that new infections are especially developed in eastern Caracas, the majority opposition middle and upper class . "To top it off, the coronavirus is a disease of the wealthy who travel and bring the virus from Europe," adds Boy. What Maduro does not explain is that the host of the mega-party on the Los Roques islands, where several infections occurred, is the son of Comptroller Elvis Amoroso, one of the Chavista leaders closest to the presidential couple.

The 'son of Chávez' acknowledges that in his management of the crisis he is inspired by other leaders ("I heard Pedro Sánchez's appearance in full, one learns a lot from what he hears"), but most of his decisions are from his own harvest . In fact, from the first moment it has opted for another very controversial medicine, Interferon, whose main revolutionary virtue is that the ally Cuba manufactures it.

Maduro has also joined the WHO thesis, which is committed to the extension of the Covid-19 tests. He has even assured that he will have two million tests in a week, a statement widely criticized by social organizations, which compare it to the 160,000 tests that Germany performs per week.

"Attention (Néstor) Reverol (general who heads the Ministry of the Interior), beware of terrorist bombs, they go and exploit us. They can do terrorist acts to hospitals and places where we have medicines," warned the revolutionary chief, in the middle of the repressive wave against opponents, doctors, nurses and journalists. Darvinson Rojas, a reporter who reported on cases not recognized by the Government, has been in the hands of Maduro's Special Forces for two days, the famous "extermination battalions" of the revolution, as they were baptized by the United Nations.

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