There are 37 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ecuador

Confirmed cases of coronaviruses in Ecuador rose from 26 to 37 (two of them deceased), while 273 remain in an epidemiological fence, the National Service for Risk and Emergency Management (SNGRE) reported this Sunday.

According to the fourth report of that institution, thirty of the infected remain "stable in home isolation" and five are hospitalized: three in "stable" conditions and two with "reserved prognosis."

According to the most recent SNGRE report, 51 people emerged from the epidemiological fence.

In five of the 24 provinces of Ecuador the infected are registered, being that of Guayas, with 19 cases, the highest, followed by Los Ríos, with 10.

In the province of Pichincha, whose capital is Quito - at the same time the country's capital - there are six confirmed cases, while in Sucumbíos and Azuay, there is one in each.

Ecuadorian Health Minister Catalina Andramuño spoke on Saturday of the death of the sister of the first coronavirus patient in Ecuador.

"Unfortunately we have to report that the sister of the primary case patient who was also diagnosed with coronavirus has died," Andramuño said at a press conference.

He added that the patient was "in home isolation for twelve days, with mild symptoms, but after learning of the death of her sister (on Friday), she presents a loss of health," he said without explaining the health causes of the death of the woman.

Andramuño reported on Friday about the death of the 71-year-old woman who arrived on February 14 from Spain and that became the first case of Covid 19 in Ecuador, as well as the first death.

At the press conference on Saturday, the internist doctor from the Ministry of Public Health, José Vergara, stated that they received the sister of the first case in the contingency hospital, in the critical care area.

"The lady comes to us in 'shock', that is to say in a critical condition: she had very low pressure and in a critical condition. Upon entering our contingency unit, the lady presented cardiac arrest and did not respond to the resuscitation measure" , said about the sister of the person listed as the first case.

He added without further details: "We have not had time to treat the patient and identify the specific cause of death, this will be known by autopsy."

However, in its statistics on the coronavirus, the SNGRE mentions two deaths.

Recalling the prevention measures announced on Saturday, the Ecuadorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility pointed out this Sunday that the suspension of passenger flights from abroad extends until April 5.

"This measure will be in effect from midnight on Tuesday, March 17 to midnight on Sunday, April 5, 2020, and will not include those air cargo flights that only transport merchandise, correspondence, postal shipments, and humanitarian or health aid," he explained in a statement.

As provided in the Agreement, foreign travelers may enter Ecuador until 11:59 p.m. this Sunday, and Ecuadorians until Monday, March 16 at 11:59 p.m.

Ecuadorian citizens or foreigners who decide to travel outside Ecuador during the suspension period (March 17 to April 5) "will be able to continue doing so freely since the departure flights from the country will not be suspended," he noted.

However, he added, if they decide to re-enter Ecuador "they can only do so after the end of the suspension period and following the regulations in force upon their return."

All travelers -Ecuadorians or foreigners- who enter Ecuador before or after the suspension period (March 17 to April 5) from any country, by air, sea, river or land, must comply with the Mandatory Preventive Isolation ( APO) of 14 days ordered on March 12.