Andina

Peru Health Min: COVID-19 already shows a decrease as a national average

15:00 | Lima, Jun. 13.

Health Minister Victor Zamora on Saturday affirmed that COVID-19 cases in Peru are in a slow decline as a national average, adding that almost all districts in the capital city of Lima already follow that trend, with the exception of one.

Zamora said that the national average figure is crafted based on what happens in the country's regions, each of which presents a different situation nowadays, because there is clear decline in some of them, whereas the contagion curve is on the rise in others.

As an example the high-ranking official mentioned the city of Iquitos (Loreto region), which —after being hit by COVID-19— has recently a marked downward trend in cases. "Nowadays, the virus has spread to other small cities in the region such as Trompeteros, and Yurimaguas, among others," he told in RPP TV and radio station.

In the case of Piura and Lambayeque, he said that both cities also show significant decreases in COVID-19 cases, and the increase has stopped in Tumbes. On the other hand, cities such as Ica, Arequipa and Trujillo currently register a clear rise.

Concerning Lima, with 10 million inhabitants, Minister Zamora said that there is a marked decrease in COVID-19 infections in almost all districts, with the exception of Comas, located in the northern zone.

"Comas is the last district because it is densely populated, and there is also overcrowding; therefore, the contagion level is high and this causes the disease to stay in that area."

Zamora recalled that the COVID-19 had started in middle-class districts and then moved to other areas.

"Hopefully, the downward trends will continue; that does not mean that we lower our guard when it comes to the care that must remain in place, which includes wearing face masks, social distancing, and hand washing," he noted.

Lastly, Minister Zamora mentioned that the prevention message merely focused on 'Stay at Home' is also being changed. "We are starting the economic reopening now. Thus, we are moving to the main message, which is 'Your Health First.'"

"If you have to leave home, follow the three golden rules," he concluded.

(END) RRC/MVB

Published: 6/13/2020