Honduran cigar factories not closing

Honduran cigar factories not closing. A few days ago, the Honduran government ordered a second phase zero to combat covid-19. Numbers in the Latin American country are rising. And as a result, several regions including El Paraiso will be back into a lockdown starting tomorrow. This includes the mandatory closure of cigar production in the affected areas. El Paraiso includes Danli, the epicenter of Honduran cigar production. 

But now, sources within the cigar industry are informing us that the mandatory closure is off the table. Cigar factories won’t have to close. We reached out to Dr. Gaby Kafie of Kafie 1901 and Christian Eiroa of CLE for confirmation. Dr. Gaby Kafie and a source that wants to stay anonymous were quick to confirm the news. Honduran cigar factories are not closing

Honduras and Covid-19

So far, Honduras is hit with close to 34.000 confirmed infections and 900 confirmed Covid-19 deaths. Amongst the infected is president Juan Orlando Hernandez although he is fully recovered. Hernandez said “Many think this is a game and it is not until they see a relative who gets sick or when they get sick themselves that they understand the seriousness of this issue. I tell you, the truth is I don’t wish this on anyone.”

In March, Honduras ordered a phase zero. All businesses had to close, with the exception of agricultural, pharmacies, supermarkets, and gas stations. Phase zero would last at least 15 days but turned out to be a seven-week period. Last week, the government announced another phase zero for at least 15 days to combat the second wave of Covid-19. But that is off the table for cigar factories for now.