              
             English Version
            
                    search
                    close

Peru's President: Use of beds for COVID-19 decreased in recent days

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Republic

15:08 | Lima, Sep. 1.

The use of beds by COVID-19 patients at hospitals nationwide has experienced a sustained decline over the last 10 days, the President of the Republic Martin Vizcarra affirmed on Tuesday.

"The amount of hospitalization beds has been increased from 2,000 to 20,000; that means we have multiplied the number of beds by 10. Fortunately, there are good news; in the last 10 days, the number of occupied beds has been decreasing nationwide," he stressed.

The Head of State recalled that every seven days —since the pandemic started last March— the amount of occupied beds used to rise, indicating that each week more beds were needed if compared to the previous one.

"Now, during the last 10 days, there was a decline in the number of beds needed," he said.

Investments in health

The top official reported that the Government has allocated S/392 million (about US$110.52 million) only for the implementation of 20,000 hospitalization beds, while the increase to 1,650 ICU beds entailed an investment of S/460 million (about US$129.69 million).

Likewise, the statesman reported that S/283 million (about US$79.79 million) was invested in the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), other S/60 million (about US$19.92 billion) was allocated to resume the primary care level, whereas the refurbishment of the Lima-based Ate Hospital to treat critical COVID-19 patients entailed an investment of S/30 million (about US$8.46 million).

In addition, S/158 million (about US$44.54 million) was spent on the purchase of rapid and molecular tests.

Besides, he said, the grants aimed at health personnel entail an investment of S/230 million (about US$64.84 million).

Remarks were made during a press conference held at the Government Palace in Lima. The President was joined by Prime Minister Walter Martos and other Cabinet members on the occasion.

As is known,

the Executive Branch extended the state of emergency from September 1 thru 30. It is characterized by nationwide curfew at nighttime and on Sundays, as well as localized quarantine in 4 regions and 46 provinces in other 14 regions.

El presidente @MartinVizcarraC brinda conferencia de prensa para informar sobre las acciones que realiza el Gobierno frente al COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/dxrdu3owOG https://t.co/JljFplFy2N
— Presidencia Perú (@presidenciaperu) September 1, 2020