Uruguay: winning the fight against coronavirus

One Latin American country bucks the trend by preventing a mass outbreak.

Photo by Tania Malréchauffé on Unsplash

Uruguay, Latin America’s least corrupt country with the world’s longest national anthem, has been seemingly winning the war against the coronavirus pandemic. 

On August 25, the country had reported 1,527 confirmed cases and 42 deaths since its first eight confirmed cases on March 15. The World Health Organisation (WHO) added that the country has 12 deaths attributed to coronavirus per million, compared with neighbouring Brazil’s 533 deaths per million. 

Whilst New Zealand’s success in “defeating” the virus has been accredited to its physical isolation from its nearest neighbours, Uruguay can boast no such claim. Instead, it finds itself sandwiched between two countries which, as of yet, have been unable to get the pandemic under control; Argentina and Brazil. So, how has Uruguay, with its population of 3.5 million, been able to so successfully avoid the same fate of its neighbouring states? 

According to The World Bank, “a solid social contract and economic openness paved the way to the reduction in poverty and the promotion of shared prosperity that Uruguay successfully followed in the last decade.” This reduction of poverty has been sudden and continuous – the percentage of the population living at the national poverty line plummeted from 32.5 per cent in 2006 to 8.1 per cent in 2018. 

Uruguay has also been rewarded with the Gini index - a World Bank measurement that examines income inequality in a country - of 39.7, one of the lowest in Latin America. This figure indicates that Uruguay is largely a country of equality, with a relatively small gap between the rich and poor. 

Just as the pandemic reared its ugly head in Europe, the new president - Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou from Uruguay’s National Party - assumed office. On March 1, President Lacalle took office, ending the 15-year-long government coalition formed by the Frente Amplio (Broad Front), the centre-left coalition of political parties. 

According to Jennifer Pribble, Uruguay’s Frente Amplio “was successful at moving health care policy in the direction of greater universalism” and “significantly increased funding, creating a situation of near-parity in per capita spending in the country’s public and private system.” Although Uruguay’s healthcare system is far from universal, government expenditure on the sector reached 21 per cent in 2014 - Uruguay’s healthcare providers were largely more prepared for the pandemic than other Latin American countries.

In a region where political unrest is the norm, Uruguayans are mostly satisfied with how their country is run, according to Vanderbilt University Latin American Political Opinion Project. In 2016, 81 per cent of Uruguayans supported the democratic process in their country - the highest level for any Latin American country. 

Since Uruguay declared the pandemic a health emergency on March 13, more than 722,000 food coupons have been distributed under a food support policy implemented by the Ministry of Social Development. Under the scheme, 116,000 items of food were distributed to the homeless who were unable to go to established shelters across the country. President Lacalle, who many thought would make a quick U-turn on the social reforms established by the previous government, has continued to support those most in need during the health crisis. 

The Uruguayan government equipped itself with scientists and healthcare advisers in the wake of the pandemic. Henry Cohen, a gastroenterologist who serves on a committee of scientists advising the government through the pandemic, commented that “people were asked to enjoy their freedom in a responsible way by staying at home,” but added that Uruguay had the advantage of watching the pandemic evolve and develop in Asia and Europe, giving the country’s leaders and public health officials, of whom there are many, the time needed to prepare for the virus’ arrival. 

And then, the new favourite topic on everyone’s lips - testing. Uruguay has been unequivocally aggressive in its own approach to the task. On June 18, Uruguay conducted 2,713 tests per new confirmed case of Covid-19. On the same date the UK conducted just 82 tests per new confirmed case. Dr Rafael Radi, one of the Uruguayan government’s chief Covid-19 advisers said that “the key to Uruguay’s success has been a quick response detecting and isolating cases.” 

Will this success continue through the Southern hemisphere’s winter season?

Whilst Europe may be enjoying an Indian summer, winter has well and truly begun in the Southern hemisphere. Henry Cohen noted that for Uruguay, “things are getting harder. If we look at recent numbers, the numbers of cases are increasing. It is a steady growth, not an explosive one.” 

Faye O’Connor, the new British ambassador in Montevideo, commented that the “pandemic has further highlighted the importance of international collaboration“ and that she hopes “to find further opportunities where the UK and Uruguay can work together as we continue developing our strong and warm relationship in the years ahead.”

Other Latin American countries have not managed the crisis with such ease. Brazil’s president dismissed the virus as a “little flu” and angered the science community by blatantly disregarding social distancing measures at political rallies, but also by recommending drug treatments, such as antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine. Later, the WHO halted its trials as there was no evidence that it reduced death rates in patients with Covid-19. This did not, however, stop both presidents, Trump and Bolsonaro, from championing the drug. 

Uruguay’s strong and transparent democracy, combined with a stable healthcare system, has allowed  it to swiftly and efficiently control a virus that has overwhelmed many other countries. Whilst Europe readies itself for the arrival of a second wave, the now “epicentre” of the pandemic still weathers the first onslaught, some countries faring much better than others.