Bogotá DC, June 23, 2020. From Washington, United States, Dr. Jarbas Barbosa da Silva, Deputy Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), participated in the Prevention and Action program, commending the work by the Government of Colombia in handling the pandemic by covid-19 and the opening of the economy.

"I would like to congratulate Colombia for its good control of coronavirus transmission. The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Fernando Ruiz, and the entire National Government are involved in seeking an adequate balance between the control of the infection and the planned opening of the economic sectors, complying with the guidelines and all the measures," he said.

Jarbas Barbosa expressed PAHO's concern about the challenges of the countries in the region in managing and controlling the pandemic.

"Countries like Mexico, Brazil, Peru and Chile still have a very significant transmission rate. We are working with the health ministries of the region, supporting them to strengthen social distancing measures, the preparation of health services, the increase in the number of beds and ventilators so that they do not have to go through what countries like Northern Italy or New York experienced with such a high transmission that it surpassed the health service capacity," he said.

Lastly, the expert made a call to continue complying with prevention measures. "It is important that the family, the people and the community keep preventive measures while a vaccine is ready, and that the Colombian government continue with the task of informing the population with transparency," he concluded.