Andina

Peru: In an optimistic scenario, all economic activities will be reactivated by end-2020

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Council of Ministers

13:02 | Lima, Oct. 24.

Peruvian Prime Minister Walter Martos on Saturday projected that —in an optimistic scenario— all economic activities may be reactivated by the end of the current year. However, he was emphatic in pointing out that "everything is subject to how the COVID-19 pandemic develops."

"In this scenario, as a country we could be reactivating all activities, but all this depends on how the pandemic develops. From the Government, we have always opted to give priority, over any other aspect, to what is related to health and people's lives. If lives and health are guaranteed, we can reactivate all economic activities," he told RPP TV and radio station.
 
The high-ranking official indicated that the evolution of the pandemic mainly depends on the behavior of each citizen towards taking care of themselves and complying with the biosafety measures to avoid contracting the novel coronavirus.

"If all Peruvians unite, put Peru first, and bet on not becoming infected, a positive scenario is likely to emerge by the end of the year," he expressed.

The Cabinet chief said that access to a vaccine against COVID-19 will also contribute to this goal, as some laboratories are already offering to deliver it by this December. "We hope so," he commented.

Regarding budget execution, Martos explained that it was affected as productive activities and investment projects were suddenly paralyzed last March —when the state of emergency began— to prevent the spread of the coronavirus because people's lives and health were prioritized.

However, the Government has to date invested S/138 billion (about US$38.269 billion) in measures to address the pandemic and the economic reactivation.

Said amount, he indicated, has been allocated to fund grants, deliver food baskets for the vulnerable population, and prevent the payment chain from breaking, among other measures.

(END) RMCH/VVS/MVB

Published: 10/24/2020