Uruguay water crisis: how did we get here?
Uruguay has some of the most abundant water sources in the world. But the capital was told we had water supplies for just 18 days.
On the eve of Uruguay’s anniversary of the declaration of Independence, seventy percent of the population became fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Just after midday on August 24, the health minister tweeted the good news and even set a new goal saying “75% is possible”.
The chart shows a number of departments—as states in Uruguay are called—have already surpassed the 75% mark.
At the time of writing, Uruguay has the third most successful Covid vaccination campaign in the world after the United Arab Emirates and Malta.
This is particularly praiseworthy when you consider that as a small less developed country, there were problems initially actually getting hold of the vaccines themselves. So vaccination did not even begin until months after more developed nations.
Take a look at this graph from Our World In Data of people fully vaccinated relative to population. The United Arab Emirates is world number one at the moment (74%). Uruguay comes in with 71%. I include the US (51%) and the UK (62%), as many of you readers are from there. Way to go, Uruguay.
Two weeks ago, thanks to the good rates of first and second shot vaccinations and an ample supply of vaccines, a third booster shot of Pfizer was offered to those who had received their second dose at least three months earlier. Already 8% of Uruguayans, almost 300,000—myself included—, have gotten their booster.
The ample supply was in part thanks to Uruguay being fortunate to receive a donation of a half a million shots of Pfizer from the United States which shared 80 million shots doses of vaccine from its national stockpile with the rest of the world in June.
The number of new cases nationwide has dwindled to around 100 a day. There have been multiple days this month with zero deaths. The number of people in intensive care has also dropped so much—to just 11 today—that the trauma hospital which had been commandeered to deal exclusively with coronavirus patients has returned to its former speciality.
At the risk of repeating myself, in a pandemic, there’s no place I’d rather be than Uruguay.
Jan 10 2023 The Uruguay government declared the end of the health emergency on April 1 2022 after 752 days. 82% of the population has received at least two shots.
Disclaimer: Data is from the Coronavirus UY app, which is approved by the Uruguay Ministry of Health. To be able to see these graphics for yourself you must be in Uruguay and registered on the Coronavirus UY app. As they are so useful to see how the country has been dealing with the pandemic, I decided to share some screenshots and explanations with you. Any analysis is based on my own reading and research as an informed member of society in Uruguay. I’m not an expert.
Uruguay water crisis: how did we get here?
Uruguay has some of the most abundant water sources in the world. But the capital was told we had water supplies for just 18 days.
Is Uruguay a developed country? Harvard moves Latin America HQ to Uruguay
Harvard University Business School opens Latin American research centre, praising Uruguay living standard and freedom of expression.
Montevideo Carnival 2024 dates
Hot off the press! The world’s longest carnival is in Montevideo Uruguay and we’ve got the dates.
Salón No. 3 – La Barra gourmet cuisine, cafe & deli
Gourmet lunches, speciality coffee & pastries, out of an antiques store. Smoked hams, artisanal cheese & local produce from the Expendio.
Casa Flor – live the Uruguay coast like a local (VIP)
One of the very best hotels in Punta del Este. Casa Flor’s well-connected owners give you access to the secrets of Uruguay’s coast most can only dream of.
Uruguay offers new digital nomad residency
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Big Bang Nature Stays – Bohemian beach domes
Unique ocean-front location to reconnect with nature—with luxury touches—on one of Uruguay’s most deserted beaches in Maldonado.
8% of Uruguay is black—and maybe more
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Gaucho week in Montevideo – Easter
Traditional food, handmade goods, and South American cowboys riding wild horses. It’s the Semana Criolla – Montevideo’s Easter gaucho festival.
Travel to Uruguay: Medical insurance mandatory
There’s been some confusion around whether it’s necessary to have health insurance to enter Uruguay since recent changes to travel requirements. We explain.
Traveling to Uruguay? Entry requirements were updated by the government in August 2022. Check out Uruguay travel restrictions at this time.
Here’s my reply to how the Covid situation is like in Uruguay. I thought maybe you’d also be interested in an update. March 2022.
Uruguay opened for travel from November 1 with just a few general restrictions. Find out what they are, and rejoice—no more quarantine!
Der Spiegel ranked Uruguay’s pandemic response #11 in the world. So what have I been grateful for every day of the pandemic?
Uruguay has done well to obtain vaccines from three different manufacturers, and so cover the needs of the entire population.
The government banked on a fast vaccination campaign to control the pandemic in Uruguay. The data shows the strategy is working.
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