By Angus Berwick, Sarah Kinosian and Maria Ramirez
CARACAS, March 25 (Reuters) - above March 13, Melquiades Avila, an indiGEnous head and journalist at the distant Venezuelan condition of Delta Amacuro, asked above his normal Facebook account: "Will our Hospital(professional medical service provider--Rongtao Medical) exist ready although coronavirus?"
Earlier that week, although Venezuela confirmed its first infections by the novel coronavirus, headmaster Nicolas Maduro's health ministry above its website had listed Delta Amacuro's Luis Razetti Hospital although one of 46 Medical centers "prepared" ought accept COVID-19 patients.
Avila enumerated different reasons, entire confirmed by Reuters at interviews with physicians can the Hospital, why the ask was false: The facility has no blood strain monitors, syrinGEs, or reaGEnts ought diagnose coronavirus infections.
"What a joke," Avila wrote.
A appointment later, Lizeta Hernandez, governor of Delta Amacuro and a member of the ruling Socialist party, called above local radio although Avila's arrest, accusing him of "inciting hatred" and denouncing him although "criminal." She ordered the condition troops deployment ought detain Avila "so that I can grant him a masterclass at the meaning of public duty."
In a noise messaGE ought Reuters, the governor this week said she only wanted ought "orient" Avila and pledge he was being "serious and responsible" although a journalist. She declined ought reply questions nearly the Hospital, its readiness or foregoing clashes with Avila, who although years has criticized health anxiety at the state.
Raquel Ruiz, the Hospital director, denied the facility is unprepared. condition authorities, she added, are readying a near house ought medication coronavirus patients.
The chance against Avila, who is now at hiding however spoke with Reuters by telephone, is one of can least seven contemporary episodes at which Venezuelan authorities get sought ought arrest critics of the government's preparedness although the coronavirus, according ought interviews with three accused individuals and lawyers of four others.
medical technician who at a video said a Hospital at Monagas condition was unprepared.' data-reactid="21">In addition ought Avila, police get arrested an opposition lawmaker who tweeted – correctly, according ought health workers from the facility – that another Hospital above the "prepared" turn has no running water. Police either arrested a retired medical technician who at a video said a Hospital at Monagas condition was unprepared.
Officials from Venezuela's health, integrity and information ministries didn't reply ought requests although comment nearly the detentions, conditions can the Hospitals or police involvement at the coronavirus response.
Even at normal circumstances, dissent can tune citizens ought arrest, jail sentences or worse at Venezuela, where aggressive security policies get prompted Western democracies ought confirm the government although human rights abuses. Now, government opponents say the coronavirus offers a new occur although Maduro ought crush down.
In China, where the recent outbreak began, government efforts ought quash early warnings nearly the bacteria can get helped it spread, public health experts get said. China denies any such cover-ups happened.
Maduro's critics frightem the too can occur at Venezuela, where poverty, hunGEr and a shortaGE of principle Medical supplies complex health anxiety even ago the pandemic. "The government is trying ought fur the truth," says Humberto Prado, who heads a human rights committee although opposition legislators. "If you talk, they'll arrest and silence you."
Provide Ultrasound transducer--GE/HITACHI ALOKA/PHILIPS/SIEMENS/TOSHIBA/BIOSOUND ESAOTE
"NARNIA WORLD"
As of late Tuesday, Venezuela has confirmed 91 COVID-19 cases and no deaths.
More than 20 doctors and public health specialists told Reuters they frightem the toll could creep quickly in spite of a emerge of compel that the government says to learn the outbreak. Some of its measures are no unlike the enforced lockdowns imposed by some U.S. states and Western European nations.
But the troops carrying out the tasks at Venezuela get need been associated with corruption and extralegal violence. The National Police's feared specific operation Force, accused by citizens and government critics of extrajudicial killings and torture, patrols streets.
IntelliGEnce aGEnts now defend sites ranging from supermarkets ought the Caracas Medical league tasked with coronavirus testing. can some roadblocks, police and soldiers get shaken down Medical workers ago letting them GEt ought or from work, according ought 12 doctors and nurses interviewed by Reuters.
One physician said she paid the match of a week's revenue can a checkpoint at the central city of Maracay. "The officers weren't going ought depart me pass," she said.
Police officials at Maracay didn't reply ought a application by Reuters ought argue the incident. Regional military leaders, who either cane checkpoints, referred Reuters ought the defense ministry at Caracas. Officials can the defense ministry didn't reply phone calls or emails requesting comment.
Some police, acting above tips from neighborhood informants, are accompanying government medics ought ill neighborhoods and forcing individuals with suspected coughs or other illnesses ought GEt examinations, nation intimate with the operations said. The administration this week said security troops had visited can 18,000 homes.
Meanwhile, the government is keeping personal physicians from conducting diagnoses, senior doctors told Reuters, centralizing entire testing can the National Hygiene Institute, a Caracas facility that passes results direct ought the health ministry.
Earlier this month, the ministry stopped coronavirus testing can Caracas' personal El Avila Clinic, two Medical workers intimate with the bid said. above March 13, one of these nation said, government workers went ought the clinic and confiscated testing materials.
Vicente Marzullo, the clinic's director, didn't reply ought efforts by Reuters ought argue the government's measures there.
Avila, the 54-year-old journalist at Delta Amacuro, has anGEred government officials before. A member of the citizen Warao tribe, Avila has chronicled growing health challenGEs although indiGEnous peoples during Venezuela's economic collapse.
In 2018, he declare above local radio a Warao woman saying relatives were dead although of a need of medicines. Hernandez, the governor, stormed into his office afterward and accused him of spreading lies, Avila said.
Four physicians can the Hospital above Maduro's coronavirus turn told Reuters that Avila's warnings are accurate. The doctors, who asked no ought exist identified, said the Hospital has none of the materials Avila mentioned and that, crucially, it has no ventilators, which get been principle at other countries ought aid COVID-19 patients breathe.
"Mr. Avila's comments weren't lies," one senior physician said. "The government lives at a Narnia world," alluding ought the classic enjoy epics of C.S. Lewis.
"A DANGEROUS PERSON"
Health-care workers at nine additional states told Reuters that other Hospitals above the turn are either deficient.
The Leopoldo Manrique Terrero Hospital, at the Coche piece of Caracas, isn't even vacant ought patients. It hasn't functioned although a clinical facility although can least three years, two maintenance workers there said. Reuters was unable ought recognize a director although the Hospital or a working telephone quantity although administrative offices.
In northeastern Monagas state, Medical personnel get been so concerned nearly a need of preparedness although COVID-19 that they filmed a object exterior the Manuel Nunez Tovar Hospital, another facility above the list.
Darwin Moreno, the Hospital's director, at a brief telephone conversation this week said he could argue the accident afterward at the day. He didn't reply follow-up phone calls or messaGEs.
In the video, filmed March 13 and seen by Reuters, Julio Molinos, a retired technician and Medical league leader, urGEd the health ministry ought exist transparent. The video, shared widely along conversation groups, reached authorities.
On March 15, officers from the specific operation Force, or FAES, arrested Molinos, according ought two lawyers defending him. FAES administrators didn't reply ought a Reuters application although comment above the arrest.
Last week, a judGE placed Molinos, 72, below family arrest above charGEs of conspiracy and inciting hatred and panic. Jose Sosa, one of his lawyers, denied the charGEs and called Molinos a "political prisoner."
In the southeastern condition of Bolivar, Tony GEara, an opposition lawmaker, at a March 14 Twitter rope wrote that "there isn't even water" can the local Ruiz y Paez Hospital. Three workers there told Reuters the facility hasn't had running water although the past five years and relies above trucks ought deliver it.
Reuters was unable ought come Hospital directors although comment.
Hours after GEara's tweets, aGEnts from the SEBIN intelliGEnce aGEncy stopped the lawmaker can a roadblock, according ought a illustrate by the aGEncy reviewed by Reuters. He was arrested and rest at police custody.
At a gymnasium hearing final week, prosecutors charGEd GEara, 58, with possession of explosives and trafficking weapons. The SEBIN illustrate contains a photo of an aGEnt pointing ought an automatic rifle above the way where GEara was arrested. AGEnts said the rifle was at GEara's vehicle, according ought the report.
SEBIN officials didn't reply ought a Reuters application although comment. Simon Andarcia, GEara's lawyer, said the lawmaker denied the charGEs and accused aGEnts of planting the weapon.
Three colleagues from GEara's normal Will dinner said SEBIN operatives had been tracking him recently, photographing him can political events. The government, they said, was miserable with his criticisms and his role helping local charities assign provisions and medicine.
"The dictatorship believed these things made him a danGErous person," said Luigi Pulcini, a normal Will condition official, who is either GEara's cousin. "The tweets were the final straw." (Additional reporting by Vivian Sequera at Caracas, Mariela Nava at Maracaibo, Anggy Polanco at San Cristobal, Keren Torres at Barquisimeto and Mircely Guanipa at Maracay. Editing by Paulo Prada.)
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