MEXICO CITY — Venezuela will implement a week of hard lockdown starting from Monday to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus, DPA cited Vice President Delcy Rodriguez as saying on Friday.

The seven days will be followed by a week of more flexible measures.

"President Nicolas Maduro, having examined the epidemiological development of Covid-19 during the month of December, has decided to resume the 7 + 7 scheme with the start of radical quarantine measures on Monday, Jan. 4 at midnight until Sunday the 10th. United we will win!" Rodriguez tweeted.

On Tuesday, Maduro announced that Venezuela reached a deal for 10 million doses of Russia's Sputnik V, a vaccine that has been met with skepticism but which is also being used in places like Belarus and Argentina. The president a day later warned citizens not to relax.

According to official statistics, 113,562 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Venezuela, while 1,028 people have died. Venezuela has confirmed 113,562 coronavirus infections and 1,028 deaths, but the real figures are believed to be considerably higher. — SPA