Tired of vaccines and mandates, COVID denialists start colony in Paraguay

Despite its idyllic Instagram posts, there's something potentially more dangerous at play in El Paraíso Verde.

Sick of COVID-19 mandates and the pressure to become vaccinated, German, Austrian and Swiss citizens have been making their way to one of the poorest parts of Paraguay to seek refuge in a 4,000-acre gated colony.

The colony, known as El Paraíso Verde, or the Green Paradise, advertises itself as a safe haven from “socialist trends or current economic and political situations worldwide,” as well as “5G, chemtrails, fluoridated water, mandatory vaccinations and healthcare mandates.”

Founded by couple Dr. Erwin and Sylvia Annau, their Paraguay-registered business promotes itself under tags such as “#nomasks #nomandates #nofearofviruses #no5g #naturalmedicine #organicfood #nochemtrails” on Instagram.

First established in 2016, the colony was built “with the dream of a better life and future outside of the ‘matrix’,” according to its website, but it’s now become a place where immigrants can escape all mandatory vaccinations — not just those for COVID-19.

But while the colony’s social media pages present an idyllic escape from everyday life, there’s something potentially more dangerous at play.

According to The Guardian, Paraguay recorded the world’s highest COVID-19 death rate per capita in June 2021, but El Paraíso Verde claims on its YouTube page that the pandemic is “non-existent,” and it shares snake-oil “miracle cures” for COVID-19.

They are also telling viewers that Paraguay is free from pandemic restrictions, despite Paraguay having COVID protocols in place.