The percentages of positivity for the virus in the last 14 days make the capital authorities decide on this measure. The deadline is January 25.
By resolution, the Metropolitan Emergency Operations Committee ordered that Quito goes to red light, eight days before the qualifying match for the Qatar 2022 World Cup in which the selections of Ecuador and Brazil will face each other, on January 27.
The balance presented by city authorities this Wednesday details that, in terms of the percentage of positivity registered in the last fourteen days, “The capital reports an increase of approximately 20 percentage points, going from 23.3% to 42.7%”.
“To protect the life and health of the people of Quito, we declare Quito on red alert”, Mayor Santiago Guarderas said, a measure that will last until January 25.
The red alert level implies, among other measures, a reduced capacity in different venues, including sports.
The resolution of the council is given hours before a meeting that Guarderas will hold with the National COE, in which the suggested capacity for the game between Ecuador and Brazil at the Rodrigo Paz stadium will be analyzed, game for date 15 of the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier, for which the Ecuadorian Football Federation advanced the sale of seats.
“Today we will have a meeting with the mayor of Quito to analyze the reality in the city and surely the theme of the national team match will come up”, said the president of the COE, Juan Zapata.
According to the report of the Ministry of Health issued this Wednesday, it is indicated that Quito has a cumulative total of 203,973 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19, as well as 3,538 deaths confirmed in the city since the start of the pandemic.
In accordance with what was resolved by the capital authorities and after the stipulated deadline, the red alert measure could be reviewed or ratified next Tuesday, with a new epidemiological report from the Ministry of Health.
Metropolitan COE declared Quito on red alert; buses will work with 50% capacity during peak hours
The FEF aspires to at least maintain a capacity of 50% in the White House, an approximate of 20,000 fans, for the game; but nevertheless, the decision will go through the cantonal authorities and will depend on the health situation in the capital.
“Let us remember that the issue of capacity is the responsibility of the municipalities, not the COE”, Zapata indicated. (D)
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