Defense Minister Walter Martos on Thursday announced that the
sample collection for coronavirus (COVID-19) testing has been intensified in a bid to isolate the people who test positive at the facilities which are being set up at the Pan American Village.
Additionally, he drew the attention of responsible people "who do not take seriously this life-or-death situation," caused by this disease.
"The sample collection has been intensified. There is a committee that is making arrangements to increase the sample collection, identify those who test positive, and isolate them. For this reason, the
Pan American Village is being prepared to isolate patients from their relatives and from everyone in a bid to prevent further infections," he said in statements to RPP radio and TV station.
Minister Martos explained that this strategy has been applied in various countries affected by the virus, where the curve of infections increases as people continue to circulate, thus becoming unmanageable since medical systems collapse.
"Then, the proper course would be to immobilize everyone and collect many samples to isolate them, so that the curve of infections remains low and the medical system can work," he expressed.
Kits from China
Similarly, the minister announced there is a batch of 30,000 rapid coronavirus testing kits, brought from China, at the Peruvian Customs Office, which could
detect coronavirus in only 15 minutes.
"This will help speed up the sample collection, identify those who test positive, and isolate them," he added.
(END) JCC/RMB/MVB
Published: 3/19/2020