Andina

Peru President: Government will strengthen markets monitoring to prevent covid-19 spread

19:08 | Lima, May. 25.

The Peruvian Government will expand its monitoring of various markets in the country, and in some of these supply centers it will intervene directly through the Ministries of Agriculture-Irrigation and Production supported by the Armed Forces, mayors, and vendors themselves, President Martin Vizcarra affirmed on Monday.

Within this framework, the Head of State said that 5,065 people, who work at such markets, have undergone rapid tests to date. Of the total, 36% tested positive, which means that the strategy is successful.

"Thanks to the involvement of mayors and vendors themselves, progress has been made. Because of their participation, greater order, cleanliness, and security have been achieved. The markets are now safer for their customers," he expressed.

"(…) customers do not want to go to markets that have registered high contagion levels. Now, vendors are collaborating (with the Government) in order to provide better services. If we all work well, Peru will win," he stated.

In this sense, the top official highlighted the results obtained in various food markets that have registered low contagion levels, such as the Modelo de Tacna Market, in southern Peru, where the municipality and vendors have achieved important results.

"Of 175 merchants, who underwent the tests in the Tacna-based market, none tested positive for coronavirus," he stressed.

Likewise, the statesman underlined the results achieved in the market belonging to the city of Barranca (Lima region), where 101 vendors underwent the corresponding tests, and only one tested positive.


Lastly, Mr. Vizcarra said that markets are important to society. "We have to work with open markets and allow them to provide their services to the community, but complying with sanitation, order and cleanliness measures to prevent them from becoming sources of contagion," he concluded.



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

Monday marks the seventy-first day of mandatory social isolation.

(END) MAO/MVB

Published: 5/25/2020