15:40 | Trujillo (La Libertad region), Mar. 6.
Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Edgar Vasquez on Friday confirmed that the Government has activated all
protocols to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in Peru, mainly at airports.
Vasquez estimates that the presence of coronavirus will not affect tourism in South America, especially in Peru.
"Pandemics have been reported in the past, and the South American region, as well as Peru, have been the less affected by the contraction in tourism. Therefore, we hope the situation will not be different this time," he stated.
The following weeks and months will be crucial to know if the impact was more than expected.
The government official asked the population to be attentive, but not to panic, as well as to go to official sources in order to avoid spreading disinformation.
Minister Vasquez's remarks were made in Trujillo, the capital of northern La Libertad region, where he took part in the presentation of the Regional Tourism Plan (Pertur).
First case confirmed
LATAM Airlines reported that the patient is one of his employees, who had gone on vacation through Europe.
According to the company, the worker had not gone back to work since vacation as he was given a medical leave.
Besides, LATAM affirmed that all his flights in Europe were operated by other airlines, even the one that brought him back to Peru.
(END) LPZ/MAO/RMB/MVB
Published: 3/6/2020