Andina

Peru President urges Governors to support COVID-19 Command

13:57 | Lima, Apr. 13.

The President of the Republic Martin Vizcarra on Monday afternoon requested regional and local authorities, as well as ordinary citizens, to support the COVID-19 Operations Command —led by Dr. Pilar Mazzetti— "because the most important decisions must be articulated."

Within this framework, the Head of State said this command is headed by an operative person to make decisions in a permanent and articulated manner.

After mentioning that COVID-19 Regional Commands are being set up in each region, the top official affirmed that the idea is not for regional governors to lead this working group —as one of them had claimed— nor himself, the Prime or Health Ministers, because it is about executing operations, and that is the job that Mazzetti does.

"I have the best relations with all regional governors; I come from a province, I come from a region, and I know the feeling we have in the regions. How could we make decisions with our backs turned to the regions or the municipalities? There is no way, especially in a circumstance like the one we are facing, in which we all have to join forces," he expressed. 



In this sense, he recalled that —last weekend— he visited Tumbes, and Government teams traveled to regions such as Lambayeque, Loreto, Arequipa and Tacna, thus coordinating closely with regional and local authorities in order to work together.



Today's remarks were made in a televised press conference, within the framework of a mandatory social isolation imposed to prevent the COVID-19 from further spreading in the South American country.

Initially set to last from March 16 to 30, the measure has been extended thru April 26.

On this occasion, the President was joined by members of the Council of Ministers. The event was held at the Government Palace in Lima.

Monday marks the twenty-ninth day of mandatory social isolation.

(END) TMC/MAO/MVB

Published: 4/13/2020