MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's government is being deterred by the coronarvirus from holding the usual mass celebration to mark the victory of the country's revolution July 19. Instead, it will unveil a new addition to its collection of monuments in the old city center of Managua on Friday. Instead the bell is to be inaugurated Friday and a virtual concert will be broadcast Saturday night. For months the government downplayed the coronavirus, keeping schools open and encouraging mass events while the rest of the world called for social distancing. International health organizations have repeatedly urged the government to take action while the public witnessed “express burials” and spreading illness.

Source: International New York Times July 17, 2020 17:26 UTC