Amid Mass Protests, Colombia Braces for More COVID Infections
A protester throws a stone during clashes with mobile anti-riot squad in the La Portada sector on May 10, 2021 in Cali, Colombia. President Ivan Duque and members of the National Strike Committee met today in Bogotá to find solutions to social unrest. Nationwide demonstrations have not stopped even after Duque withdrew the tax reform bill. Gabriel Aponte/Getty Images

Colombia's mass protests are seen to continue for days even after its government had already withdrawn a proposed tax reform. COVID-19 cases in the country are predicted to rise amid the ongoing demonstrations.

The protests erupted on April 28, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including one police officer. However, the rights group said that the death toll regarding the protests is higher, NBC News reported.

Human Rights Watch claimed that there had been credible reports that the death toll has already reached 38. Colombia's President Ivan Duque and the National Strike Committee, which includes major unions, held their first meeting Monday without agreeing.

Protests leaders said the government did not show any care for their demands. On the other hand, the government said that the meeting was only exploratory but noted that it aims to reach a deal.

Colombia's Mass Protests

Mass protests in the Latin American country were triggered when unions demanded President Ivan Duque to withdraw the proposed tax reform.

The Colombian government said the tax reform sought to stabilize the country, which was economically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Aljazeera reported.

However, the working and middle classes said the plan favored the rich, while the working class carries the burden of the said tax reform. What angered the protesters were a range of new expanded taxes on citizens and business owners and reduction and elimination on several tax exemptions.

In light of the mass protests, Colombia's Finance Minister Alberto Carrasquilla has given up his post. One supporter of the demonstrations said that Colombians are tired of the government putting more taxes on the population already suffering from the pandemic.

Alicia Gomez, 51, said they need to keep fighting as their rights would be taken if they don't. President Ivan Duque earlier withdrew the proposed tax reform after alleged human rights violations against protesters by police.

Arlene Tickner, a political science professor at Bogota's Rosario University, said that this was the first time that the government had conceded after widespread opposition.

COVID-19 Cases in Colombia

In a press conference on Monday, Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez said the capital of Bogota is facing a "hospital collapse" and is not expected to see the number of cases dwindle this week as earlier predicted.

Lopez said that a decrease in COVID-19 cases would not be seen until the end of May, according to another Aljazeera report.

Health Secretary Andree Uribe echoed Lopez's concern as Medellin is preparing for a possible crisis. Reports said that ICUs in Medellin have been at or near full capacity for weeks.

Uribe said they are preparing and conducting early identification, such as testing everyone who has joined the protests.

In Cali, health secretary Miyerlandi Torres said they are worried about demonstrators who do not follow any self-protection protocols, such as social distancing and the use of face masks.

Torres cited the presence of the British variant in the country, adding that it is a highly contagious variant.

Authorities in Cali said mass protests are likely to spark a new peak in COVID cases in the country. Colombia has reported 3.02 million cases, with 2.84 million recoveries and 78,342 deaths.

WATCH: Colombia Protests Continue After President Duque Withdraws Tax Reform - From Global News