Peru Health Min: Take care of yourselves not to get sick from COVID-19

12:32 | Lima, Jun. 6.

Health Minister Victor Zamora on Saturday asked all Peruvian citizens to take great care of their health so as not to get sick and not have the need to go to hospitals, given that those establishments are under enormous pressure from patients —many of them infected with COVID-19.

"Take care of yourselves, take all the care required, this is not the time to get sick, and leave (your home) —only if absolutely necessary— wearing face masks, social distancing, and constantly washing your hands. Now, (…) it's not the time to get sick because our health system is very shocked. Please stay at home," he expressed.

During the launch of The Hour of Primary Care Strategy in Lima's San Juan de Lurigancho district, Zamora said that no effort will be enough to meet the needs of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, he affirmed that progress is being made little by little. "Every day, we have one more bed, more staff, and a technology that helps us, etc."

Asked about the informal sale of oxygen in some areas of the country, the Health minister stated that the General Directorate for Medicines, Inputs and Drugs (Digemid) —along with the National Police— are fighting this problem. At the same time, the

Government has started the domestic and foreign purchase of oxygen supported by a recently-decreed decree.

"Oxygen is a medicine and, as such, cannot be adulterated because that would be life threatening. I ask the population to avoid informal vendors and rather attend the health facilities," he said.

Regarding the presence of a greater number of street vendors, Zamora indicated that formal or informal trade should not mean crowded places. He also said that he would have a meeting with Lima's La Victoria district Mayor George Forsyth to address this issue, since that jurisdiction hosts a high number of vendors.

Primary care

Concerning the strategy launched today in San Juan de Lurigancho, Zamora explained that it involves the intervention of rapid response medical teams and clinical monitoring of possible COVID-19 cases in the peripheral district.

"Each one of the health workers will bring medications for those populations that require it. Thus, we won't have to wait for them to arrive at our hospitals, which are already under pressure."

Ministro @victorzamora: No es el momento de enfermarse. A la población le pido tener todos los cuidados. No salgan de sus casas, usen mascarillas y mantengan la distancia. pic.twitter.com/mgE9R4CedC
— Ministerio de Salud (@Minsa_Peru) June 6, 2020

(END) RRC/MVB

Published: 6/6/2020

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Peru Health Min: Take care of yourselves not to get sick from COVID-19

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