It is like a science fiction story by Asimov: Ecuadorian television is broadcasting a repeat of the 2006 Germany v. Ecuador match on Sunday. At the bottom of the screen, a big message in orange letters warns viewers: "Stay at home!” This message is continuously repeated in official government communications. The government communicates the same message to people through memes or video clips, along with the deliberately shocking news of the total number of cases and total deaths.
On March 11, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of coronavirus a global pandemic and asked countries to intensify actions to mitigate its spread, protect people and health workers, and save lives; and that same day, Ecuador’s Ministry of Health declared a health emergency for 60 days in the National Health System, in the face of the growing number of cases at the international level. Three days later, on Sunday, March 15, President Lenin Moreno announced restrictions of movement in Ecuador that have been in effect since 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, in order to comply with the Mandatory Preventive Isolation.
In Quito, people are going to buy food wearing masks, gloves and with their hair tied back. The rate of informal employment is usually measured by the number of vendors on the pavements, in parts of the city such as La Marín, Solanda, the Old Town, Santa Clara and Cotocollao.
