BOGOTA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in Colombia has risen to 456,689 and the death toll to 14,810 after 11,578 new cases and 318 more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection said on Saturday.
Secretary of Economic Development for Bogota Carolina Duran declared that next month, around 1,000 restaurants will begin a pilot reopening program in which diners will receive service outdoors.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Bogota Claudia Lopez announced that a strict quarantine will continue in seven areas of the city until Aug. 30, despite protests by members of the business community.
Colombian President Ivan Duque announced at the end of July that he extended mandatory preventive isolation until Aug. 30 across the country, adding that areas that do not report new cases of COVID-19 will be able to gradually reopen businesses. Enditem
