Peru President implements further restrictions on circulation to curb COVID-19

13:51 | Lima, Apr. 2.

The President of the Republic Martin Vizcarra on Thursday afternoon announced that —starting tomorrow— only men will be allowed to circulate on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; whereas women will be allowed to do so on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays —as additional measures to reduce the contagion curve of the COVID-19 during the state of health emergency currently underway in Peru.

On Sundays, the traffic of both —men and women— will be restricted thru April 12, the date on which the second stage of the emergency is set to end.

The Head of State specified that this new restriction will be only for citizens who have to go out to buy provisions and essentials at markets, pharmacies and others, or reach bank branches.

Those who carry out essential tasks —to guarantee the operation of basic services and other necessary services— can circulate as usual from their homes to their workplaces and back.

"(…) We have ten days left. Let's make this extra effort, so that we can be in control of this disease," he requested citizens.

The top official explained that this decision was made based on information and to deliver "a second hammer blow" to the COVID-19 spread.

The statesman specified that the purpose is to have fewer people on the streets every day —as was done in other countries— and to reduce the mobility of people to 50% during the hours in which circulation is permitted: 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in Lima and other cities; and from 5:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in five regions of the north and east of the country (Lambayeque, La Libertad, Loreto, Piura, and Tumbes).

Likewise, Mr. Vizcarra explained that —with this measure— he will also seek that the health services have the State capacity to respond to the people who may have been infected.

In this sense, the President recalled that when he learned about this disease, there were 100 ICU beds. However, the Lima-based Ate Hospital and the Pan American Village Towers are now available, in addition to purchasing instruments and hiring personnel for care.

"We are now able to serve 500 people, that is, we have quintupled our response capacity as a Government and as a country," he stressed.

Remarks were made in a televised press conference, within the framework of a mandatory social isolation imposed to prevent the COVID-19 from further spreading in the South American country.

Initially set to last from March 16 to 30, the measure has been extended thru April 12.

On this occasion, the President was joined by members of the Council of Ministers. The event was held at the Government Palace in Lima.

Thursday marks the eighteenth day of mandatory social isolation.

Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: A través de un Decreto Supremo hemos dispuesto la siguiente medida:
? Lunes, miércoles y viernes solo podrán circular varones.
? Martes, jueves y sábado solo podrán circular mujeres.
? Los domingos la restricción será para todos. pic.twitter.com/Zi1eOyOIRb
— Presidencia Perú (@presidenciaperu) April 2, 2020

Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Ya utilizamos la técnica del martillazo: aplanar la curva de contagio. Esto permite reducir el pico de casos de coronavirus y tener capacidad de respuesta en nuestro sistema de salud. pic.twitter.com/Uy9CRyM4nH
— Presidencia Perú (@presidenciaperu) April 2, 2020

Presidente @MartinVizcarraC: Las mismas regiones son las que permanentemente ocupan los primeros lugares en número de detenciones. En primer lugar, Lima, seguido por La Libertad, Piura, Tumbes y Lambayeque. pic.twitter.com/cRyLyrkB87
— Presidencia Perú (@presidenciaperu) April 2, 2020