An on-line mindfulness-based stress reduction program for health workers in Uruguay amidst the COVID-19 pandemic April 2020

Abstract

On March 13, 2020, the first 4 cases were confirmed in Uruguay. A week later health emergency was declared, and measures were introduced to reduce the spread of the virus. Although the Uruguayan government did not declare mandatory quarantine measures, a quarantine scenario did unfold with high level of compliance. The number of COVID cases remained relatively steady with 3082 cumulative cases (or 887 per 1 million population) as of November 1, 2020 (WHO, 2022). We delivered the MBSR Program from April to June 2020. The declaration of health emergency was maintained until November 2021, where more than 70% of the population received at least 2 doses of the vaccine.