Incidence of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 in military personnel of Bolivia

• Published in: BMJ military health 2021-06, Vol.167 (3), p.215-216
• Main Authors: Escalera-Antezana, Juan Pablo, Mariaca-Cerball, C A, Alvarado-Arnez, L E, Balderrama-Saavedra, M A, Bonilla-Aldana, D K, Rodriguez-Morales, A J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Fatalities; Military personnel
• ISSN: 2633-3767; 2633-3775
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjmilitary-2020-001705

Correspondence to Dr A J Rodriguez-Morales, Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira, Pereira 660003, Risaralda, Colombia; [e-mail] The impact of COVID-19 has not been described so far in a military setting, especially in Latin America.1 Latin America has recently become the main epicentre of the pandemic due to the significant rise in the number of cases in Brazil and other countries in the region, accounting for more than 10.61 million cases just in South America (November 22, 2020).2 The healthcare population has been described as significantly affected in multiple states,3 but also other occupations, including military, are compromised due to COVID-19. (A) Daily number of confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 among all the military personnel, including sergeants and commissioned officers, and soldiers and seamen, in Bolivia. The management of COVID-19 in military personnel is challenging as they also helped in the sanitary control of disease, especially in rural areas, but also because of the need for national safety and, in the case of Bolivia, this personnel is the main force controlling quarantine blocking points in land transportation across the country.