Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez Diagnosed With COVID-19, Will Remain In Quarantine

As per data released by the Johns Hopkins University, Honduras has confirmed 9,656 cases of coronavirus and 330 deaths till now and is gradually opening up its economy. And now, the Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has announced that he has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and is currently receiving treatment. He assured that while he will be self-quarantining, he will continue working remotely.

“As president of the nation and a responsible citizen, I want to communicate that during the weekend I started to feel some discomfort, and today I was diagnosed as having been infected with COVID-19,” Hernandez said in his televised speech. “They have recommended rest but I will continue working remotely and through my aides.”

He shared that after his diagnosis it was found that he has mild symptoms of coronavirus, has started receiving treatment, and is already feeling a lot better. While the treatment continues, he will stay in isolation under observation as per the recommendations of his doctors, who have prescribed him drugs like microdacyn, azithromycin, ivermectin and zinc to combat the mild symptoms.

He also shared that his wife and two aides have also been diagnosed with the virus and are all currently receiving treatment like him.

Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that it had increased the overall financing access for Honduras to about $531 million, of which they immediately released $233 million. The sanctioned amount is more than five times the amount that was approved and was increased under the Stand-By Arrangement and the Arrangement under the Standby Credit Facility to help the impoverished Central American nation during its financial crisis.

“The COVID-19 pandemic and external spillovers are expected to hit Honduras hard, and the augmentation of access will support the authorities’ response to mitigate the impact,” the fund said in a statement.

They further added that the increased fund “will help Honduras meet the urgent balance of payments needs stemming from the pandemic, including increased health care and social spending.”

Honduras gradually began re-opening its economy on June 15, after extending its curfew by one week on June 8 so as to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, as shared by the security ministry spokesman Jair Meza.