VENEZUELA - AUGUST 2020 Situation Report Last updated: 14 Oct 2020 HIGHLIGHTS (28 Nov 2020) As of 11 October, Venezuela reported 83,137 cases of COVID-19 and 697 deaths, as well as 74,664 recovered cases. Most affected states: Capital District, Miranda, Zulia and Apure. While there is a decrease in the number of people returning, new informal movements to cross the border are taking place at the same time. From mid-March to October, it is estimated that over 120,000 people have returned to Venezuela. In several states, constraints on sustained access to basic services such as water, electricity, gas, fuel and July 2020. Guasdualito, Apure, Venezuela. Returnees telecommunications continue to be reported. queuing for medical consultation. OCHA/Cortes Due to heavy rains, rivers have overflowed and triggered flooding in communities in the states of Aragua, Portuguesa and Bolivar, among others. KEY FIGURES FUNDING CONTACTS Naomi Frerotte 3.3M 2.4M $762,5M $146M Public Information Officer Reached with Reached with COVID- Required in 2020 Received in 2020 [email protected] assistance as of 19 aid as of August August Samir Elhawary Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator/Head of Office 238 [email protected] HRP projects BACKGROUND (28 Nov 2020) Situation Overview As of 11 October, Venezuelan authorities confirmed 83,137 COVID-19 cases and 697 deaths, as well as 74,664 recovered cases. The number of community transmission cases continued to exceed confirmed cases in returnees. As of 11 October, authorities had confirmed 9,286 cases among returnees (11 per cent of the total number of cases). https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of/ Page 1 of 15 Downloaded: 30 Nov 2020 VENEZUELA - AUGUST 2020 Situation Report Last updated: 14 Oct 2020 At the national level, due to the increase in community transmission cases in several areas, national and regional authorities have established additional shelter spaces in hotels, sports and convention centers and sports villas to temporarily accommodate asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic people diagnosed with COVID-19. The most affected areas by COVID-19 have been Caracas and the states of Miranda and La Guaira in the Capital Region, and the states of Zulia, Apure, Tachira and Aragua. However, the rate of cases at the border has continued to decline, in part due to the lower proportion of confirmed cases among returnees. With the increase of COVID-19 cases and deaths among health workers in the Americas, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) issued an alert to Member States calling to strengthen the capacities of health services at all levels and to provide health professionals with resources and training to ensure an adequate and timely response to the pandemic. The flow of returnees continues, although to a lesser extent. According to recent reports, Venezuelans were once again leaving the country resorting to irregular crossings, attracted in part by the relaxation of quarantine measures in neighboring countries. From mid-March to 12 October, it was estimated that more than 120,000 returnees had entered the country, mostly through the state of Tachira. The temporary shelter spaces known as PASI continued to provide services for returnees to let them complete their 14-day minimum quarantine before transferring them to to their final destinations in other parts of the country. Previously, in the state of Apure, returnees had to wait for a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before they could leave. However, in late September, the protocols were revised to allow returnees to continue to their final destination if they had a negative rapid test and completed 10-14 days of quarantine. Since 13 March, the Government has consecutively extended the State of Emergency and quarantine measures every month. The National Institute of Civil Aviation extended the restriction on air operations throughout the country from 12 October to 12 November, excluding cargo, humanitarian, repatriation, postal or UN-authorized flights. In line with situation assessments for different geographic areas, authorities have continued to implement a three-level quarantine/relaxation modality, ranging from radical quarantine to the phased reopening of some sectors by alternating seven days of activity with seven days of quarantine. Fuel shortages continued in most parts of the country despite efforts to increase production at two refineries. Limitations on fuel supply have negatively affected the provision of services in priority sectors and the broader humanitarian response. Several states in the country continued reporting limitations on regular access to water, electricity, gas and telecommunications services. In several states, there have been reports of frequent power shortages and problems with the distribution of gas, leading to a higher number of people resorting to biomass and firewood for cooking, despite the risk of respiratory-related diseases. The COVID-19 socioeconomic impacts have increased concerns about growing humanitarian needs in Venezuela and across the region. The pandemic has affected many businesses in country, with a significant impact on production and employment. The minimum wage of 800,000 Bolivars, which at the official exchange rate of the Central Bank, was equivalent to approximately US$1.8 per month. According to the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV), the accumulated inflation for 2020 (January-September) was 844.1 per cent. Due to the rainy season, rivers have overflowed and communities have flooded in several states across the country. The most affected communities were in the municipalities of Girardot and Mariño in Aragua state, Guanare in Portuguesa state and Upata and Santa Elena de Uairen in Bolivar state. The floods have also affected families in the states of Cojedes, Merida, Nueva Esparta and Zulia. Between 9 and 15 September, floods due to the overflowing of the Limon River affected around 300 families in Aragua state. The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (INAMEH) and Civil Protection monitored the situation and local authorities, with support from the national Government, initiated the response. Priority activities included the re-establishment of water and electricity services and debris removal to clear the roads. https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of/ Page 2 of 15 Downloaded: 30 Nov 2020 VENEZUELA - AUGUST 2020 Situation Report Last updated: 14 Oct 2020 VISUAL (13 Oct 2020) 5W - Operational Humanitarian Presence ANALYSIS (28 Nov 2020) Funding According to the Financial Tracking Service (FTS), as of 14 October, the funding received for the humanitarian response was $146 million, $67.7 million within the Humanitarian Response Plan with Humanitarian Needs Overview 2020, including funds for the UN, international and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Agencies and countries contributing to humanitarian activities included: the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Switzerland, United Nations Central Emergency Fund (CERF), Canada, Germany and others. https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of/ Page 3 of 15 Downloaded: 30 Nov 2020 VENEZUELA - AUGUST 2020 Situation Report Last updated: 14 Oct 2020 CLUSTER STATUS (28 Nov 2020) Health 121,304 People received medical supplies in August Needs Communicable diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, measles and rubella require intersectoral and multidisciplinary strategies to increase prevention measures (including vaccination campaigns for immune-preventable diseases) and response activities to avoid putting additional pressure on the health system, focused on the COVID-19 response. - Dengue: As of 29 August, 5,039 cases of dengue were reported, for an incidence rate of 15.56 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. There was a 44.8 per cent decrease in reported cases (9,124) and a 17 per cent increase in the fatality rate compared to the same period in 2019. Early identification and high risk case management are critical to minimize hospitalizations. - Zika: As of 29 August, there were 19 cumulative probable cases, a decrease of 64.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2019 (54 cases). According to the Ministry of Popular Power for Health (MPPS), as of 11 July, seven samples had been processed, all of them negative. - Chikungunya: As of 29 August, there were 46 cumulative probable cases, a decrease of 61 per cent compared to the same period in 2019 (118 cases). According to the MPPS, as of 11 July, 30 samples had been processed, 2 of which were positive (6.67 per cent). - Measles and rubella: As of 29 August, there were 503 suspected cases with zero confirmed cases. There were 13,092 reporting units for these pathologies, with 39 per cent of cases following adequate investigations and with 86 per cent adequate blood samples to conduct case studies. From 13 March to 11 October, 83,137 PCR-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported, which represented an incidence rate of 286 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. To date, 697 deaths have been reported, representing a mortality rate of 24 deaths per million inhabitants and a lethality rate of 0.83 per cent, one of the lowest in the region. About 88 per cent of https://reports.unocha.org/en/country/venezuela-bolivarian-republic-of/ Page 4 of 15 Downloaded: 30 Nov 2020 VENEZUELA - AUGUST 2020 Situation Report Last updated: 14 Oct 2020 confirmed cases were the result of community transmission (73,286 cases) and 11.8 per cent were imported (9,851 cases). A comparison of the total number of reported cases as of 2 June (18,574 cases) with cases reported as of 11 October (83,137 cases) showed an increase of 347.5 per cent. As of 2 August, 179 positive COVID-19 cases were confirmed among the indigenous population, including three deaths. A total of 68.5 per cent of the cases were reported in Bolivar state (123 cases) and the rest in Zulia state (43 cases, 2 deaths), Amazonas state (12 cases) and Delta Amacuro state (1 death).