“Red Alert Issued For All 18 Departments in Honduras” – Headline in La Prensa, March 14, 2020
The government of Honduras is taking strong measures against the outbreak of Coronavirus. As of March 18, there have been 12 confirmed cases of the virus within its borders. For at least the next 7 days there is a curfew in place, there is a ban of all public transportation, schools are closed, and access to the country by air, land and sea has been cut off. There are blockades in place on major highways to slow the movement of people around the country.
Those living in rural areas are probably safer from having less contact with other people. But there could eventually be a scarcity of food because of roads being blocked.
The effects on people’s daily lives is too much for those already living on the edge. Not being able to travel to work has many in panic because they depend on every lempira they make each week. Panic has been seen in the supermarkets as well, with hordes of people pushing and shoving for the last items on shelves.
This pandemic will pass, but for vulnerable groups like the poor, there could be a long-lasting impact.
Rural Honduras 