VENEZUELA

On November 23, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced that the country is to be under nationwide lockdown until November 30, as indicated in the “7+7” strategy to curb the spread of COVID-19. Although supermarkets and pharmacies may open, banks will not be able to serve the public. Maduro also said that a special easing regime is to be put in place throughout December to increase consumer spending during Christmas and the New Year.

Sectors required to suspend activities during the lockdown period include banks, hardware stores, hairdressers, machine shops, plumbers, as well as businesses linked to the textile and chemical industries, among others.

It should be recalled that the Executive’s economic reactivation scheme proposes two consecutive seven-day stages, with seven days of lockdown followed by seven days of commercial activities.