(Photo: Sebastian Rodriguez/Chile Presidency/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.)
Out of public outrage over alleged inadequate control of the coronavirus pandemic, the President of Chile, Sebastian Pinera dismissed health minister Jaime Manalich on Saturday.
Enrique Paris was sworn in by Pinera as the country's next health minister. The ceremony was streamed via the news office's Twitter account. Criticisms of Manalich grew as revisions were made around the publication of coronavirus information.
The Chilean leader disclosed Saturday that the former health official had made no effort in the performance of his "difficult and noble" responsibility to safeguard the people's health. Paris, Manalich's successor, is an academic and medical doctor.
The unexpected revamp comes as the country faces its most difficult month in its struggle with the global health crisis so far, with increasing active infections and rising fatality numbers.
At present, Chile has the biggest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Latin America per million people, registering 167,355 new cases late Saturday, with 3,101 deaths.
A report that the Ministry of Health notified the World Health Organization about a far more number of deaths from the pandemic than it had publicly disclosed proved to be the final catalyst in causing the institution to crack under pressure.
Although Santiago de Chile, the capital city, has been under quarantine for over a month, the number of coronavirus infections has recently ballooned.
Manalich, a candid kidney specialist who once managed one of the largest hospitals in Chile, has gained recognition for an ambitious campaign to keep the hospitals supplied with ventilators and protective equipment and lead comprehensive daily media briefings.
Yet there have been numerous reports of spats among health ministry officials, and Manalich has been bashed by opposition leaders, local officials, and top health figures for failing to disclose more detailed contagion data or apply lockdowns earlier and for repeated changes in standards for reporting deaths and cases from the virus.
On Friday, Chile surpassed France to emerge as the 12th most-affected country in the world, with over 160,000 coronavirus cases and infections since the start of the outbreak in the South American nation.
The Ministry of Health said at least 222 new fatalities were recorded, while the undersecretary of Assistance Networks, Arturo Zuniga disclosed that the total number of coronavirus-linked deaths is now at 2,870. The Carabineros de Chile have apprehended 1,247 people for violating curfew and health quarantine since Thursday.
Jose Miguel Bernucci, national secretary of the Chilean College of Doctors, welcomed Paris' appointment, stating he was looking forward to a more consensual approach and a "change in strategy to jointly confront the pandemic," Aljazeera reported.
