Guatemalans were seen queueing to buy groceries in Mixco on Friday (May 15), ahead of a round-the-clock lockdown announced by the government due to an increase in COVID-19 infections.

People form and wait in line in front of neighborhood stores, or “corner stores” such as meat vendors, groceries and bread dispensers, in zone 3 of Mixco, in Guatemala City, Guatemala, May 15th. 2020. Also, several commercial premises that served as local businesses are seen closed and with a “For Rent” sign, after the business had to shutdown due to the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. After a week in which Coronavirus cases increased tenfold, president Alejandro Giammattei ordered the complete shutdown of the country and of Guatemalan society for three days or over the weekend, as the government tries to stop the spread of the disease and flatten the curb, which for weeks had stayed in numbers lower than the thousands. In a press conference, Giammattei announced that for the past two days, the cases for COVID-19 in the Central American nation had surpassed the hundreds milestone, which puts the number of cases over the thousand marker. The new restrictions as of now are a curfew from 11 a.m. To 6 a.m of the next day. Stores will only open for three hours, and people should practice safety measures as Social Distancing. Wearing Masks at all time outside of their homes, and sanitize their hands and work places all the time. Also, restrictions include a generalized no use and no circulation of motor vehicles such as cars or motorcycles, except for security forces, emergency and delivery services. The restrictive measures will last until Monday 18th, and then the curfew will be established from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. and stores and markets will be allowed to open on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Guatemalan president also mulls the possibility of a total shutdown of the country and a full curfew in effect. Several neighborhoods with gates where closed up, not allowing any visitors, as well as the streets emptied out of vehicles circulating on them.