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Peru: Minsa to step up surveillance at markets to prevent another COVID-19 outbreak

00:00 | Lima, Jul. 1.

Starting next week, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) will launch the second round of surveillance in food markets in order to verify whether COVID-19 precautionary measures yield the expected results, Health Minister Victor Zamora announced.

Zamora disclosed that 36 food markets across the country will be inspected in the first stage.

The aim is to verify if they are no longer COVID-19 hotspots for retailers and buyers.

In May, the Government ordered the inspection of 380 markets —out of the 2000 all over the country— to promote better distribution, guarantee healthy conditions and, thus, prevent the spread of the virus.

Response to eventual outbreak

According to Zamora, this second inspection is part of a six-point strategy implemented by the sector in order to deal with an eventual outbreak, after the lifting of quarantine in 18 regions throughout the country.

Another measure is the incorporation of 'contact tracing' into the Peru en tus Manos (Peru in your hands) app, a digital tool that will alert users if they are near anyone infected with COVID-19 or someone who has been in contact with a positive case.

Contact tracing is 75% complete and will be available for download through the 'Peru in your hands' app this week.

A third measure includes a prevalence study through the COVID-19 National Survey, conducted since June 28, to find out the real impact of the disease on the population and, thus, anticipate the number of vaccines needed to protect the uninfected population.

(END) DOP/RMB/MVB

Publicado: 1/7/2020