The Peruvian Government responded quickly to the international emergency linked to coronavirus (COVID-19) and is giving very strong signals of what must be done to combat this infection outbreak,
In a press conference —joined by Health Minister Elizabeth Hinostroza— the
PAHO officer highlighted the fact that the Government issued regulations on the multisectoral response plan to be followed, just one day after the
World Health Organization (WHO) declared the international coronavirus emergency.
After reiterating the call for calm, Mayorga urged all State-run institutions and the general public to collaborate and support the efforts that the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has been undertaking to face this situation.
"Citizens must also collaborate. Do not panic, do not cause the available masks to run out, because they are important for the people who are sick, for those who care for them, their entourage, their families, and health personnel," he emphasized.
Mayorga said that —based on studies— only 19% of coronavirus cases to be registered in Peru will be treated at hospitals, while the remaining 81% at the homes of affected citizens.
He informed that —since the beginning— PAHO has joined all preparation efforts by Peru's health authorities, helping them to review the state of preparedness of the entire health system, both in the public and private sectors.
It must be noted that the number of coronavirus cases has surpassed 100,000 worldwide with at least 3,200 deaths.