QUITO, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno on Monday declared a new 30-day state of emergency nationwide and two weeks of curfew amid fears of holiday crowds and gatherings fueling new outbreaks of the novel coronavirus.
At a virtual press conference, Moreno said the 15-day curfew would begin immediately and last from 10 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages were also banned, Moreno added.
"Relaxing sanitary measures can lead to death," he warned.
Other regulations limit the time of traveling by car, and restrict capacity at shopping centers to 50 percent, and at restaurants and hotels to 30 percent. Beaches will be closed to the public on Dec. 24, 25 and 31, as well as Jan. 1.
Ecuador registered 72 new cases of COVID-19 infection in the last 24 hours, for an accumulated caseload of 206,329. The death toll has climbed to 9,400, with 4,549 probable deaths from the coronavirus, according to the health ministry. Enditem
