Within this framework, the Cabinet chief commented that it was difficult and complex for the Executive Branch to establish the emergency rule argumentatively speaking, since the expression "quarantine" was only found in the General Health Law, but without further explanation or regulation, and —even less— antecedents for its implementation.
Zeballos said that the quarantine has exposed the serious weaknesses that the State has. In this sense, he referred that —at the beginning— Peru only had 100 Intensive Care Units (ICU). However, the country currently relies on 1,200, and the objective is to
reach 2,000 in the coming months.
In terms of hospital capacity, there used to be only 2,000 beds. Nonetheless,
Peru has currently 15,000 and expects to rely on 20,000 soon —a number that will still be insufficient.
Lastly, Zeballos said that the Executive Branch is "making the best effort to contain this pandemic."