Bolivian vice-minister dies from COVID-19

The Bolivian top official Gonzalo Rodriguez, the vice-minister in charge of fighting smuggling, has died from the coronavirus, Colombia Reports said.

Bolivia’s government issued the statement, which says that Rodriguez was admitted to the hospital two weeks ago after contracting the novel infection. His situation eventually worsened and he passed away on Friday.

“His spirit of solidarity and commitment to the people will be a light of inspiration along the way. Our condolences to his family. We are with them in their pain,” President Luis Arce sent his condolences over the vice minister’s death to his family on Twitter.

Gonzalo Rodriguez was a career soldier and became vice-minister in 2018 as part of the government of then-President Evo Morales. The official resumed the position in November 2020 to lead the fight against the illegal entry of goods into Bolivia.

The novel pathogen hit Bolivia hardly, the public health system is almost collapsed. COVID-19 infection is spreading to different parts of the Andean country, which has registered 245,719 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 11,547 deaths from the corona.