LatinNews Daily - 06 July 2020

* El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has postponed the second phase of the country’s economic reopening, due to a spike in coronavirus (Covid-19) cases. As of 5 July, the health ministry reported 250 new daily confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 8,027 including 223 fatalities. The first phase of El Salvador’s economic reopening began on 16 June, with sectors considered key to the economy such as textiles, manufacturing and construction able to return to work. The second phase would involve reopening public transport, among other sectors. In a statement released on 5 July, in which he announced the extension of the first phase for 15 days until 21 July, President Bukele said that the number of new cases had tripled since 31 May and the number of deaths had quintupled. Last week El Salvador’s central bank (BCR) forecast that the country’s GDP will contract by 6.5%-8.5% in 2020, down from the 2%-4% decline forecast in April.

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