Venezuela confirms coronavirus cases amid public health concerns

Venezuela on Friday confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus amid concerns that the economically struggling South American nation is unprepared to confront a pandemic that has proven challenging for even the world's wealthiest nations. Millions of Venezuelans are unable to frequently wash their hands due to lack of running water that has resulted from the decay of public services under the administration of President Nicolas Maduro.

Hospitals have lost huge numbers of medical professionals and are so delapidated that, in some, staff use paint buckets as improvised toilets and reuse surgical gloves for lack of supplies. Maduro says his government has been hindered in fighting the virus because U.S. sanctions, meant to force him from office, have led banks and foreign businesses to refuse services.

"Early today, two cases were certified," Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said in a televised statement. "One 41-year-old citizen had been traveling in the United States. The other was traveling in Spain." The two arrived on a flight from Spain and both have been placed in quarantine.

Schools will be closed as of Monday, she said, adding that citizens seeking to use the Caracas metro system will need to wear face masks. Maduro on Thursday said Venezuela was suspending flights from Europe and Colombia for at least a month.

Long lines began to emerge on Friday at pharmacies, many of which are running out of alcohol for sterilizing and other basic personal hygiene items. The Pan American Health Organization said last week it would be prioritizing Haiti, Venezuela and a handful of other Central and South American countries who have "challenges to their health systems."

The Venezuelan Medical Federation this week said hospitals are not in condition to care for patients with coronavirus. Vanessa Castro, 39, a nurse in the city of Maracay, stopped sending her daughters to school even before Friday's announcement on concern that the virus was spreading.

"We know that things in (Venezuela) are more difficult than in other countries, and now we've got coronavirus on top of that," said Castro.