President Jair Bolsonaro announced on Thursday (15) the reopening of Brazil's land borders with Paraguay, which had been closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the borders between Foz do Iguaçu (PR) and Ciudad del Este were reopened; Ponta Porã (MS) and Pedro Juan Caballero; and Mundo Novo (MS) and Saltos del Guaira.
Bolsonaro posted a photo on social media with the president of the neighboring country, Mario Abdo Benítez, accompanied by an excerpt from the Casa Civil ordinance that determined the reopening of border posts.
In a joint statement, Brazil and Paraguay's governments highlighted "the importance of reactivating border trade, especially for the preservation of jobs." Both countries have pledged to employ health protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The reopening of the borders with Paraguay is a measure that had been negotiated for months with Asunción. With a poorly structured health system and limited resources, Paraguayans resisted due to the advance of the pandemic in Brazil and the risk of importing the virus into their territory.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon