Coronavirus cases soared in Chile Tuesday as soldiers were deployed to back up riot police in Santiago following clashes with demonstrators angry about food shortages and job losses.

Soldiers in armored vehicles and wielding automatic weapons were deployed to the working class neighborhood of El Bosque, where on Monday residents armed with clubs and stones clashed with riot police.

Overnight Monday to Tuesday rioters looted a neighborhood gas station, while downtown a mob set a bus ablaze. Residents in both poor and middle-class neighborhoods banged pots and pans in protest.

Chilean demonstrators clashed with riot police on May 18 during a protest against President Sebastian Pinera's government
Chilean demonstrators clashed with riot police on May 18 during a protest against President Sebastian Pinera's government AFP / Pablo Rojas

The military deployment came as Chile recorded 3,520 new coronavirus cases, its biggest daily increase, for a total of almost 50,000 infections.

The South American country, with a population of some 18 million people, also reported its largest number of single-day deaths with 31, bringing the total to more than 500.

The pandemic is focused on Santiago, and with 90 percent of the intensive care hospital beds taken in the capital authorities are shipping patients to other cities.

Soldiers were deployed to parts of Santiago one day after rioting erupted over the COVID-19 restrictions and the lack of government aid for the unemployed
Soldiers were deployed to parts of Santiago one day after rioting erupted over the COVID-19 restrictions and the lack of government aid for the unemployed AFP / MARTIN BERNETTI

"We're in a complicated moment, very difficult, with a lot of worried citizens," said Health Minister Jaime Manalich.

"People don't have work, they don't have money and they don't have food," said Monica Sepulveda, a 46-year-old unemployed security guard from El Bosque.

Sepulveda complained that promised government help hadn't arrived.

Violent protests erupted in Santiago, Chile over the COVID-19 lockdown
Violent protests erupted in Santiago, Chile over the COVID-19 lockdown AFPTV / Pablo COZZAGLIO

Santiago began a total lockdown on Friday as Chile strives to contain its coronavirus outbreak.

"We're seeing what we call a social pandemic," said Manalich.

"It produces job losses, a lack of resources and the worst, it produces hunger."

He said President Sebastian Pinera was taking measures to tackle the lack of food.

"The health and social crisis we're going through has no precedent in Chile," Manalich said.

Claudia Pizarro, the mayor of the Santiago suburb of La Pintana, criticized Pinera for making "spectacular announcements" but failing to deliver on aid.

In April Pinera announced a family allowance worth $317 for 4.5 million of the most vulnerable Chileans, but that has yet to be put into action.

Coronavirus