Montevideo (AFP)

That day, the President of Uruguay put on his wetsuit for a morning surf session before a meeting. The little jaunt of this winter sports fan, the first since coming to power in March, sums up this country's philosophy in the face of the pandemic: freedom and responsibility.

Taken 15 days ago, the photo of this unofficial moment, where we see Luis Lacalle Pou, 46, a board under his arm coming out of the water smiling, was published on Tuesday. The same day that Europe reopened its borders to travelers from fifteen countries, including only one from Latin America, Uruguay.

With 932 cases recorded, including 27 deaths, according to the latest figures, Uruguay - a small country of 3.4 million inhabitants which has never officially decreed total containment - seems an exception in a region where the contaminations get carried away, in particular in Brazil, Peru, Mexico and Chile.

President Lacalle Pou (center right) claims to have bet on "individual freedom" rather than on "a police regime". The voluntary call for containment was widely followed by the population.

After the appearance of the first cases on March 13, people from wealthy backgrounds from Europe, the government quickly declared a health emergency, suspended courses and closed the borders.

"The early appearance of very socially connoted cases, at a time when the circulation of the virus within the population was very limited, led to the implementation of adequate measures, even if they seemed exaggerated, right at the start of the school year. school, "judges Dr. Alvaro Galiana, specialist in pediatric infectious diseases, with reference to the start of classes in the southern hemisphere.

The demographic characteristics of the country, with a low population density and the absence of large urban centers, with the exception of Montevideo, are also a favorable element.

- Gradually -

Uruguay chose to do things gradually, without crippling its economy. In April, the industry and the construction industry resumed their activity. Then, it was the turn of the cafes and restaurants, and in May that of the gyms.

June saw the reopening of shopping centers and football, the national passion, must resume on August 15, but without an audience.

Despite this, the Uruguayan economy

e has been rudimentary: there are currently 200,000 unemployed, against 10,000 before the pandemic, and the GDP should fall by 3% this year. An impact which remains limited, compared to the IMF forecasts for Latin America, with an expected plunge of 9.4%.

This week, Uruguay also became the first country in the region to authorize the return of students from kindergarten to university.

If the authorities, like the experts refuse to claim victory, the recipe for the Uruguayan model seems to be working: after three months of confinement, the population is enjoying a return to normal.

In addition to government decisions, advances by Uruguayan researchers have been made. "In February, they started working on the first PCR tests (virological screening), and they got there quickly, both in quality and quantity. Today we have more than the country needs "says Henry Cohen, the doctor who coordinates the group of scientists who advise the government.

While Iberia has to resume direct flights between Montevideo and Madrid from Sunday, Uruguayan foreign minister Ernesto Talvi said that Uruguay will establish "reciprocity" after the European Union's announcement.

Facundo Caballero, 29, has been waiting for one thing since his flight to Paris was canceled in March: to leave, to join his girlfriend.

"I wait for someone to tell me + go ahead + and I go for it. You never know if there is a second wave and I must stay here again," he said.

Conversely, Valentina Morais, a 30-year-old Uruguayan, arrived in October from Italy to spend the southern summer in Uruguay and she planned to leave in April. "I am privileged to be there," said the one who found a job and now wonders if she will use her return ticket in July.

© 2020 AFP