They predict 9º for this Tuesday; people suffer in lines and warm themselves with api

The cold is felt in the country. The forecasts announce that the temperature will drop to 9 degrees today Celsius in the capital of Santa Cruz and people are looking for a way to counteract the climate with hot drinks, shelter and even rubber.

At the 4 de Noviembre market, Patricia Cervantes waits for her clients with api and steaming tojorí served with cheese empanada. His snack had more visits than usual due to the south and chilchi that entered the city and will stay for a few days.

According to Senamhi forecasts, this Tuesday the temperature will range between 9 and 19 degrees Celsius. Although the minimum is far from historical record, 4 degrees recorded in July 2021, gives an idea of ​​how harsh winter can be, since we are still in autumn.

Tojorí and api is the breakfast that many prefer to start the day and warm up before starting their activities or work day, especially in these days of intense cold. Since when do you prepare?, one of her diners asks Patricia. “A lifetime,” she responds immediately and then relates that she learned the trade from her mother Rosario Carrasco, known as Doña Dora, founder of the market. She proudly says that her mother was a reference for the neighbors for preparing the best tojorí, which is why she strives to maintain that good reputation.

The tojorí is ready early and the api prepares it in the kitchen at his stall so that it is hot when it is served, the same as the cheese empanadas that are placed in the pan when The customer orders them, so that when eating the cheese it stretches. The broad smile and good treatment is part of the magic of their snack.

“People demand that the api always be boiling and when it is winter it is look for more than on hot days”, he comments.

In another area of ​​the city, Natividad Espinoza did not hesitate to look for a raincoat and rubber to keep warm from the south and chilchi. She is from La Paz and He likes the cold, but he assures that the south in Santa Cruz is something else. “There is a lot of humidity here, it penetrates to the bones, it seems like you are putting on wet clothes,” he says.

She sells candy on a sidewalk, which is why she assures that the rubber protects her from low temperatures. ““I get hotter, that’s why I prefer to wrap myself in bags,” says.

For her part, Juliana López, a 30-year-old mother, points out that “the cold hits everyone,” but she also highlights that for some it is harder, because there are not always possibilities of having everything you need to protect yourself. In his case, his room does not have doors or windows, so the low temperatures are felt more strongly. He also says that there are many other families that do not have the possibility of having adequate infrastructure.

She has three children (two, seven and ten years old) and no matter if it rains, is cold or hot, she must go out to find something to work on. This Monday she left her house at 6:00 and he was lucky that they gave him a bag with coats for his children.

People who have sick relatives in hospitals also feel the drop in temperature firsthand. At the emergency doors At the San Juan de Dios hospital, people sheltered themselves with pimps, jackets and quilts so they can stay warm while waiting for news of their relatives who are being treated in this hospital.

Those who carry out procedures also suffer. This Monday the line at the Public Manager, located in the second ring, remained outside the facilities. Some people complained because they had to endure the weather to be able to get to the window where they receive information or start their paperwork. “The worst thing is that many of those who come here are older adults who suffer from many ailments that are felt in the cold,” said one woman.

Others, already resigned by the lines that form everywhere, indicated that they were not affected by waiting. “This thing about the lines is everywhere, mainly in public institutions. What you should do is see the way to eliminate them and make all the procedures less bureaucratic,” protested another person in line.

People living on the street remain wrapped in oilcloth and cardboard on the sidewalks. Others seek out ATMs to use as bedrooms.

On the other hand, health authorities call people who are within the risk groups to receive the influenza vaccine, in order to be protected for the winter season.

The director of the Departmental Health Service (Sedes), Jaime Bilbao, pointed out that the dose is available for free in health centers. health and is applied in this first phase to people with diseases basic, children from six months to two years, older adults, pregnant women and health personnel.

Bilbao expressed its concern about the low influx of people to the immunization centers, where more than half a million doses are available, but until To date, only 45,000 have been applied, that is, 14 percent.

“It is necessary that people become aware of the importance of getting vaccinated against influenza for that it is protected,” said Bilbao.

At the Santa Rosita health center they say that people have begun to respond to the call to get immunized. There, an average of 40 daily doses are being applied to risk groups.

“The center is open 12 hours a day for people to come to get vaccinated, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. indicated Lic. Berenanda Velasco, in charge of vaccination.

Teresa Molina de Pinto (73) went to this center to get the flu vaccine. “The cold has arrived and before I get sick I came to get vaccinated“, he said, indicating that every year he looks for the dose to avoid complications of the disease.

She waited her turn, like other people in the group. enabled for immunization.

To get vaccinated, you only need to present your identity card and, In the case of children, parents Family members must carry the vaccination card.

Meanwhile, in La Paz, the municipal secretary of Health and Sports, Fátima Verduguez, also asked to attend to health centers, municipal hospitals and to the Auxilio La Paz 167 center, where they are administering the dose.

“Vaccination is going slowly. We have until May 8, 13,604 vaccinated in the different risk groups that the La Paz Headquarters has reported,” Verduguez reported.

According to the official report, the majority of vaccinated people are older adultswhich reach 7,424.

He recalled that in the La Merced, Los Pinos, La Portada, Cotahuma hospitals and La Paz, in addition to the Municipal System of Prehospital and Emergency Care Auxilio La Paz 167, is vaccinated 24 hours a day and from Monday to Sunday.

There is absenteeism in educational units, since many parents prefer not to expose their children and leave them at home.

The head of the Departmental Directorate of Education (DDE), Nelson Alcócer, reported that the winter schedule is still being evaluated, but a tolerance applies to the schedule admission and the use of school uniform.

Tolerance means that students will not be penalized for being slightly late. to classes due to cold or rain. It is also allowed that students attend dressed warmly with other clothing that is not part of the uniform.

Alcócer indicated that a meeting is being scheduled with Headquarters and Senamhi to evaluate the weather conditions and the curve of disease infections respiratory, and thus determine the date for the official implementation of winter time.

“We are starting the month of May and the harshest time is coming. colder, which is in June and July”, detailed the departmental director of Education.