Seeking ways to boost to its economy, Colombia has set aside three tax-free shopping days this summer. Critics fear they could become super spreader events for the coronavirus.
Shoppers browse at an electronics store in Bogotá, Colombia, on June 19. Shoppers flocked to Colombian shopping malls to take advantage of a day without value added tax, which triggered Black Friday-style shopping frenzies.Nathalia Angarita /Bloomberg via Getty Images
At a time when the country is facing a spike in COVID-19 cases, urging Colombians to flock to stores and malls"sends an erroneous message," said Bogotá Mayor Claudia López. They did just that on Friday, June 19, the first of the three tax holidays. At many stores, mobs of shoppers turned out in a Black-Friday-like frenzy. Retail sales jumped five-fold, according to the Colombian government, prompting President Iván Duque to declare the event a roaring success.
"People need to understand that it's not worth risking their lives for a discount," he told reporters.by Johns Hopkins University
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