Chilean presidential candidate Boric confirms positive delta variant

The presidential candidate Chilean Gabriel Boric, one of the favorites for the elections on November 21, confirmed this Friday that its contagion of covid-19 announced on Wednesday, which filled the last days of the campaign with questions, is a delta variant.

“The Seremi de Salud (health authority) has just informed me that my covid is a delta variant. I’m still at home, following all the protocols. Thank you very much and continue taking care of us, that the changes in Chile need us all “the former left-wing student leader shared on Twitter.

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After reporting that he suffered from several of the symptoms, such as fever and cough, a PCR test was performed and reported a positive result on Wednesday, an announcement that caused a stir, sent six of the seven presidential candidates to quarantine and generated great uncertainty about the remainder of the campaign.

All, except for one of the contenders who resides in the United States, are obliged to stay between seven and ten days in their homes in a preventive manner, which leaves them a margin of few days to carry out events and propaganda in the streets.

Yasna Provoste (center left), Sebastián Sichel (moderate right wing) and Marco Henríquez Ominami (progressive) underwent a PCR test that was negative.

Meanwhile, the far-right José Antonio Kast, who overtakes Boric in some polls, and Eduardo Artés (a left-wing radical with little support) did not report on medical examinations.

In total, there are 54 close contacts of Boric that started quarantine, but the number could increase now that it is known to be a delta variant since the criteria of the Ministry of Health are more strict with this strain.

According to official information, in these cases close contact would be considered to be anyone who has spent more than 15 minutes with the infected person regardless of the use of a mask.

The case of covid-19 has also affected legislative activity since at least three deputies, including Boric himself, will not be able to participate on November 8 in the vote of the impeachment against President Sebastián Piñera.

Likewise, next Tuesday’s discussion of the controversial bill to allow the fourth withdrawal of 10% of pension funds, in which Senator Yasna Provoste will not be able to vote and which could be postponed, could be affected.

The contagion occurs amid a slight rebound in the pandemic in Chile, which adds more than 1.7 million infected and almost 38,000 total deaths, and has experienced an increase in the number of cases after three months with the covid- 19 controlled.

This presidential race is one of the most uncertain and crucial in recent decades, since Chile’s next leader -who will replace the conservative Sebastián Piñera in March- will have the task of channeling a country that experienced a strong social and economic crisis in 2019. implement the new Constitution.

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Deshawn