ASUNCION, March 7, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Paraguay’s President Mario Abdo Benitez
announced a cabinet reshuffle Saturday after violent street protests over the
government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He announced new people would be appointed to the ministries of health,
education, women’s issues, and civil affairs.
“I am sure that the men and women named will do their utmost to confront
this moment of crisis that the country is enduring,” the president said.
Thousands of protestors clashed with police late Friday, ransacking shops
and setting cars on fire. A total of 21 people were injured, hospital
officials said.
Paraguayans are angry over a shortage of personal protective gear and other
equipment to confront the health crisis and a collapse in the healthcare
system. The health minister already resigned Friday.
On Saturday, another 5,000 people came out to protest but this time the
rally was peaceful, and they called for the president’s resignation.
As of Friday, Paraguay had reported 165,811 coronavirus cases and 3,278
deaths.
It is awaiting the arrival of four million vaccine doses from the Convax
system of the World Health Organization and a million doses of the Russian
Sputnik 5, for a population of just over seven million.
So far, Paraguay has received just 4,000 doses of vaccines from Russia,
intended for intensive care personnel.