1 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:10,039 Speaker 1: Welcome to Prague Nosis. I'm Laura Carlson. It's day one 2 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:15,440 Speaker 1: thirty one since coronavirus was declared a global pandemic. Today's 3 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 1: main story Latin America has been hard hit by the pandemic, 4 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:23,799 Speaker 1: but there's one small country in the region that is 5 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: quietly beating COVID despite bordering countries where the virus rages. 6 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: But first, here's what happened in virus news today. US 7 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:50,040 Speaker 1: Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell, Treasury Secretary Stephen Manuchin, and 8 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: other GOP leaders began hammering out the details of a 9 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 1: roughly one trillion dollar Republican plan for a new round 10 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 1: of virus relief. At will be their opening bid as 11 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: they begin negotiations with Democrats, who have already put out 12 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: an expansive three point five trillion dollar proposal. The two 13 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: sides remain far apart on many of the particulars, including 14 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: McConnell's determination to include liability limits for businesses, schools, and 15 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 1: other organizations. Hong Kong reported sixty six new local virus cases, 16 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: down from eighty three on Sunday. The new outbreak has 17 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: now infected five hundred and sixty local people in sixteen days, 18 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: alarming health officials. About a third of infections are unlinked 19 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:50,919 Speaker 1: to confirmed cases or existing outbreaks, signaling that hidden chains 20 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: of transmission are widespread. In light of the outbreak, the 21 00:01:55,880 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: Financial Hub is extending restaurant restrictions as well as JIM 22 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: and bar closures by another week, and it's expanding mask requirements. Finally, 23 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: a coronavirus vaccine the University of Oxford is developing with 24 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 1: Astra Zenica showed promising results in early human testing. The 25 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: vaccine shows what's called a dual immune response. That means 26 00:02:23,040 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 1: it increased levels of both protective neutralizing antibodies and immune 27 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: T cells that target the virus. That's according to results 28 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: that were published today in the Lancet Medical Journal. And 29 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: now for today's main story. The small South American nation 30 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 1: of Uruguay is best known for its grass fed beef 31 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: and Atlantic beaches, but the country of three point five 32 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: million people has another distinction. It seems to have dodged 33 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:06,680 Speaker 1: the worst of the COVID nineteen outbreak. Despite being nestled 34 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: between hot spot countries. The country has seen just one 35 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: thousand or so cases since the pandemic began, and only 36 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: thirty three deaths. Ken Parks reports the reasons may have 37 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 1: as much to do with its policies from years past 38 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: as its present day virus response. What is the secret 39 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: to uruguay success? First, it acted fast. President LUs Lakaishapo 40 00:03:35,600 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 1: ordered a voluntary lockdown and closed international borders less than 41 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: a month after taking office March first. Speaking at a 42 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: seminar in June, lakaijah Po has said his decision to 43 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: appeal to his compatriots responsible exercise of liberty, as he 44 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 1: refers to his voluntary lockdown policy, wasn't an easy one. 45 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: It was March, and his advisers had provided infection forecasts 46 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:00,080 Speaker 1: ranging from tift cases to his meanings a quarter of 47 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: a million cases. The decision to say no to obligatory 48 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: quarantine was a little more complex based on the data 49 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 1: we have. Of equal or greater importance are Uruguay's institutional assets. 50 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 1: It's one of the wealthiest nations in the region, with 51 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: a mature political system that sees little to gain from 52 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: sacrifice in the country to advance partisans agendas. Uruguay is 53 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 1: also reaping dividends from the heavy investments in public healthcare 54 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: and social programs. The left wing Broad Front Party made 55 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 1: during his fifteen years in power. The government strategy of 56 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: widespread testing, contact tracing, and voluntary lockdown is paying off. 57 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 1: Most schools are now holding classes and malls, shops, restaurants, 58 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:49,719 Speaker 1: and government offices are open. Active COVID cases have held 59 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:54,000 Speaker 1: below or just above one since early June. Uruguay's manage 60 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 1: all that, even though it counts COVID hotspots Argentina and 61 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: Brazil as neighbors. I recently spoke with Public Health Minister 62 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: Daniel Salinas about Uruguay's success in containing the pandemic. Minister Sealinas, 63 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 1: a medical doctor, urge his compatriots to appreciate and defend 64 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 1: the country's COVID gains. Has to appreciate and defend its status. 65 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: It has to be part of our identity. It's like 66 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:25,159 Speaker 1: in football. We have to win this World Cup. That 67 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: doesn't mean we have won the battle, because at any 68 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,279 Speaker 1: moment something can happen that is beyond our control. The 69 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,160 Speaker 1: reopening of classes didn't generate one additional case. The reopening 70 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 1: of shopping centers hasn't created spikes and activity. The opening 71 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: of hotels and restaurants hasn't created problems. Daily Uruguay has 72 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 1: increased entry requirements for citizens and foreign residents arriving from 73 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:57,239 Speaker 1: abroad by air, Fairie or Land. Authorities require new arrivals 74 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: provide a negative COVID test taken no more than seventies 75 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: two hours before traveling. After that, arrivals have to spend 76 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 1: at least a week in quarantine and undergo another test. 77 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: Uruguayan Brazil are also coordinating their COVID response measures along 78 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 1: their border. Minister Selenas says the measures aimed to event 79 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: further outbreaks like those in the provincial capitals of Rivera 80 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: and train d Tace that were linked to Brazil, where 81 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,239 Speaker 1: many Uruguayans who live along the border go to shop 82 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: Moulin Dando and you're shielding the country from the situation abroad. 83 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: But in the end we depend on the personal conduct 84 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 1: of our citizens because starting from one case, there were 85 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:39,640 Speaker 1: ninety seven cases, and Tres, which is a lesson looks, 86 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 1: is a very small city that had ten percent of 87 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: Uruguay's cases. Uruguay also faces the challenge reviving a tourism 88 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,760 Speaker 1: industry whose beaches, spas and casinos catered to more than 89 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,559 Speaker 1: one point seven million Argentines and almost half a million 90 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: Brazilian slash here. I asked Minister Selenas if Uruguay is 91 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,440 Speaker 1: going to open its tourism ministry next summer, bud point. 92 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 1: Don't know for sure. There is going to be domestic tourism, 93 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,720 Speaker 1: but conditions to enter the country aren't going to change. 94 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: I hope there is a vaccine by then. What Luruguay 95 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: is out performing most of its peers in terms of 96 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: infection mortality rates. The pandemic has caused significant hardship for 97 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: ordinary Ruguayans who have lost their jobs or struggled to 98 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: keep their businesses afloat in the face of declining sales. Well, 99 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: the unemployment rate has actually dropped below ten since the 100 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,800 Speaker 1: start of the pandemic. Economists attribute that to many of 101 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: the jobless not actively looking for work. We'll swallow though 102 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 1: fifty six Bones and operates a fruit and vegetable stand 103 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:46,320 Speaker 1: that service five neighborhood street markets in the capital Montivideo. 104 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 1: I spoke with him recently at a morning street market 105 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:51,640 Speaker 1: in the neighborhood of Positos about how the pandemic has 106 00:07:51,680 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: affected his business. In the market, Live is mainly off 107 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: people more than forty years old. This is a morning 108 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 1: market and active people are at work. In general, older people, 109 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: parents and a family or grandparents come. Those are the 110 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: people most affected, or at least the ones that have 111 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: been declared at risk due to their age. It has 112 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,720 Speaker 1: an impact because older people don't come to the market, 113 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: so there are fewer clients and sales. Draw idea and 114 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:32,880 Speaker 1: does is it in daily? Oswaldo says his sales are 115 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: just six of what they were before the pandemic struck 116 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: in early March. On a positive note, he notices that 117 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: foot traffic in the market has been picking up for 118 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: about a month. Federico runs a butcher's shop in the 119 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: traditional middle class neighborhood of Delores in montivid Uruguayans are 120 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: among the biggest meat eaters in the planet, consuming one 121 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: five pounds of beef for person last year. I asked 122 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:57,839 Speaker 1: Federico how meat consumption has changed in the neighborhood during 123 00:08:57,840 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: the pandemic. Consumption has held up or even increased a little. 124 00:09:04,520 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: Places for eating outwork closed or people are spending more 125 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: time at home and have more time to cook. Fortunately, 126 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 1: our company has benefited from the pandemic because sales have increased. 127 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,559 Speaker 1: I'm going to see you. Uru Way has received international 128 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,720 Speaker 1: recognition for its handling of the pandemic. I asked Federico 129 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:34,160 Speaker 1: how this newfound attention makes him feel. One feels a 130 00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: lot of pride. I think things have been done right 131 00:09:37,040 --> 00:09:40,080 Speaker 1: here since day zero, and people have been extra careful, 132 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: so seeing them talk about US abroad is always a 133 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: source of pride. I so far has managed to contain 134 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,680 Speaker 1: the pandemic, while it's larger neighbors struggle to get a 135 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 1: grip on the disease. However, success can prove short lived 136 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:56,719 Speaker 1: due to COVID's uncanny ability to quickly spread, as illustrated 137 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: by two outbreaks in provincial cities. An important outbreak in 138 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:03,840 Speaker 1: recent days at a hospital in the capital, Montevideo. Uruguay 139 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 1: has won many battles against the pandemic, but it's too 140 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,480 Speaker 1: early to declare victory just yet. Perhaps the reopening of 141 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,200 Speaker 1: its international borders at some point down the road would 142 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 1: be one sure sign that Uruguay has COVID on the ropes. 143 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: That was Ken Parks in Montevideo. And that's it for 144 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: our show today. For coverage of the outbreak from one 145 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: bureaus around the world, visit Bloomberg dot com slash coronavirus 146 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 1: and if you like the show, please leave us a 147 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 1: review and a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It's 148 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: the best way to help more listeners find our global reporting. 149 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: The Prognosis Daily Edition is produced by Tophor foreheads Jordan 150 00:10:56,240 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: gas Pure, Magnus Hendrickson and Met Laura Carl Wilson. Today's 151 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 1: main story was reported by Ken Parks. Original music by 152 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: Leo Sidrin. Our editors are Rick Shine and Francesco Levi. 153 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: Francesca Levi is Bloomberg's head of podcasts. Thanks for listening.