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.
“We are going to have a real spring,” announced Uruguay’s well-regarded health minister Daniel Salinas this week.
What the minister meant that is by September—the southern hemisphere spring—seventy percent of the population will be fully vaccinated, that people can start to go about their daily lives freely, and importantly for many of you reading, he specifically mentioned the return of travel to Uruguay. Uruguay’s borders have been closed to everyone except residents with few exceptions since March 2020.
Salinas’ actual words (our translation): “My goal has always been spring, I have always said that spring is the date when approximately everyone will have two vaccinations (…). So I think that by spring we are really going to be in a re-emergence of society in its interactions, being face-to-face and receiving tourists.”
By May 14,37% of Uruguayans had received at least one dose and 26% were fully vaccinated against coronavirus. The ministry of health provides an observatory online where data includes the number of people with appointments and the number of people on the waiting list. You can see that 40% of the population of the capital, Montevideo, has received at least one vaccination rising to 42% in Maldonado, the department where the holiday resort of Punta del Este is based.
Despite alarming numbers of new cases since March, Uruguay’s vaccine campaign has been one of the world’s fastest since it started just twelve weeks ago.
Of countries with a bigger population than Uruguay, which has 3.5 million inhabitants, only seven have vaccinated more people proportionally than Uruguay: Israel, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Hungary, Chile and the USA.
The health ministry original plan was to have 70% of the population vaccinated by September vaccinating at a rate of 30,000 per day. However from this week, after receiving a new consignment of shots, the country is doubling that number, so it’s going to happen sooner. This is being achieved through opening additional vaccination centers.
The lack of availability of doses had limited operations but Uruguay went ahead and organised wait lists in the meantime. There are currently almost half a million people aged 31 to 70 on the waiting list. They should received their first doses by the end of this month. After that, everyone on the waiting list between the ages of 18 and 30 will be vaccinated between June 1 and 8.
In line with its science-based approach to health campaigns, Uruguay announced May 13 an upcoming study to measure the effectiveness of the vaccinations. The goal is to measure the efficacy of each of the three vaccines available in the country comparing stated clinical trial results with the reality that vaccinated Uruguayans are living.
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.
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
Digital nomads and remote workers can now obtain a residency permit to work legally from Uruguay for six to twelve months.
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
Afro-Uruguayans play a huge part in Uruguay’s cultural identity. Are they really just 8% of the population? The new census may correct the stats.
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.
It happened on the eve of Independence Day—almost as if it had been planned. Uruguay’s vaccination rate is third in the world, and cases plummeting.
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4 Responses
Just found your site. Scheduled for late November and early December. Uruguay and Argentina going in the right direction. Chile really going in right direction. USA going in the wrong direction. Hope a system can be set up to verify our two Pfizer vaccinations and will get a “booster” if advise. Looking forward, but safety must come first. Thanks for a great site and stay safe.
Thanks, Joseph, for the kind words. Are you signed up to our newsletter? We’ll be posting there as soon as there is significant news about Uruguay opening up to overseas travellers. — All the best, Karen
Does this mean there’s a chance Carnival happens next year?
Hi Rich, I would say most definitely so. Carnival has only ever been cancelled 5 times in its history, and this year was one :((