"Fake COVID-19 Tests Conducted"... Guatemala Deceived by 'Jjaktung' Equipment

Pedestrians wearing masks are passing by a street sign recommending 'social distancing' in Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala. [Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] It has been confirmed that the COVID-19 testing equipment used in Guatemala, Central America, was fake. With a significant number of test results being inaccurate, the Guatemalan government plans to launch an investigation.

According to the AP News on the 22nd (local time), Guatemalan lawmakers and human rights inspectors called for an investigation into the fake COVID-19 testing equipment and tests purchased by the health authorities. They reported that the Guatemalan Ministry of Health spent a budget of 1 million USD (approximately 1.1 billion KRW) to purchase 30,000 COVID-19 testing kits, but the test results were unreliable.

The Guatemalan company that sold the testing equipment claimed to have purchased the equipment from a U.S. company, but the U.S. company stated that they never sold such equipment.

Jord?n Rodas, a human rights activist in Guatemala, pointed out, "It is unbelievable that corruption occurred during the procurement process of diagnostic devices despite the country facing a national crisis due to COVID-19." Edwin Asturias, who led Guatemala's COVID-19 response, lamented on Twitter, "We do not know how many people trusted negative test results and unknowingly transmitted the virus to others."

Amelia Flores, the Minister of Health, ordered an investigation into the company that supplied the COVID-19 diagnostic devices and former health ministry officials on charges of fraud and perjury.

According to the international statistics site Worldometer, as of today, Guatemala, with a population of approximately 18.13 million, has recorded a cumulative total of 171,289 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 6,306 deaths.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.