The Government of Peru will not hesitate to
implement stricter measures, if necessary, in order to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and protect the population, Environment Minister Fabiola Muñoz has affirmed.
"As a Government, we are making every effort to control the situation in two weeks. However, we have also been very clear: people have to stay at home," she warned.
The cabinet member regretted cases such as those reported in La Tinguiña (Ica region), where two processions took place on the same day, despite the state of national emergency, or in Sullana (Piura region) and Moquegua region, where people went out over the weekend as if the coronavirus pandemic did not exist.
"If we have that level of relaxation, of course the quarantine we are facing will not be enough. No doubt we will take the necessary measures. This is a public health problem. This is not solved only with good will. If we need to extend and tighten the measures, or whatever is necessary, we will not hesitate to do it," she remarked.
Muñoz noted that reducing the curve of infections will only be achieved with everyone's effort.
Muñoz stressed that "as a country, we took early measures. As soon as the first infected was detected, we started to think about what measures could be put in place to prevent and contain (the virus), to avoid contagion levels like those in Italy and Spain," she told TV Peru.
The minister remarked that the best measure to reduce the cost of human lives is social isolation and the protection of the most vulnerable people.
It has been found that there is a direct relationship between the rise in cases and the lower level of compliance with social isolation.
Additionally, the government official expressed concern about the increase of coronavirus cases in Piura and Loreto.
(END) JOT/RMB/MVB
Published: 3/24/2020