In Chile curfews and quarantines imposed as part of measures against the pandemic have largely calmed months of social protests against the conservative government of President Sebastian Pinera. The riots started in October 2019 in response to a raise in the Santiago Metro’s subway fare, the increased cost of living, privatisation and inequality prevalent in the country.
On May Day 2020, riots took place in capital city Santiago to resist the government plan to go back to Normality. Police arrested dozens including journalists, gathered in the city’s Plaza Italia, on accusation of defiance of a government prohibition on public gatherings of more than 50 people as part of measures against the coronavirus.
As Covid19 crisis grows in Latin American countries, Pan American Health Organization says the region is experiencing what Europe had six weeks and yet to see peak.
Although Brazil and Peru are leading countries in terms of cases and death toll, the policy of government of Chile for going back to normal, raises the concerns about a huge crisis which will affect mostly the workers.
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