Ecuador, one of the hardest-hit countries in the region, is starting to reopen after a 40-day country-wide lockdown and transition to social distancing.

As such, Ecuadorian health authorities had “little time to respond” to the first-reported COVID-19 case, said to Magdalena Alcocer, national community health coordinator of the Ecuadorian Red Cross.

Though the country experienced a high number of reported cases, Ecuador transitioned to social distancing, though health experts and Ecuadorians fear a scenario like Guayaquil happening again.

Quito, Ecuador’s largest city, allowed some businesses to reopen May 20 AS PART OF A PARTIAL REOPENING

As long as protocols are tailored to the capacity of each municipality, Risk and Emergency Management specialist Dario Rivadeneira believes social distancing is a viable solution, though he doubts if the country is prepared for a potential second wave of cases.

Andrea Almeida, who is quarantining in Quito, Ecuador’s capital, understands that social distancing is inevitable.