The Government ordered the closure of beaches along the entire Peruvian coast on December 31 and January 1 with the aim of preventing crowds and reducing the risk of COVID-19 contagion during the long New Year holidays,
Health Minister Hernando Cevallos has reported.
The government official specified that this measure was approved Wednesday at the Council of Ministers session.
It includes river banks, lakes, and public swimming pools.
Thus, the use of sand or stone rest areas facing the sea, sea zones, river banks, lakes or lagoons, and public swimming pools is prohibited.
Non-contact water sports are exempted from this restriction: surfing, sailing, rowing, among others, which take place exclusively in the sea area and with physical distancing.
"Beach or swimming pool areas will not be open on December 31, 2021, and January 1, 2022. They will be open the rest of the days but with limited capacity and adopting the preventive measures," the head of the
Ministry of Health (Minsa) explained
"Law enforcement agents and local governments will be in charge of monitoring compliance with this order," he added.
In this sense, the Joint Command of the Armed Forces and the Peruvian National Police will support local municipalities in the surveillance activities along the beaches, so as to enforce the Government's order.
"The health of the population and prevention of massive infections come first; that is what this Council of Ministers has agreed," Cevallos pointed out.
His remarks were delivered during a press conference held after the Council of Ministers session on Wednesday.
(END) LIT/RMB/MVB
Published: 12/29/2021