President Martin Vizcarra on Thursday afternoon confirmed that coronavirus (COVID-19) cases have increased to 234 in Peru.
The Head of State specified that —out of the total amount— 19 patients are hospitalized and 7 are in ICU connected to mechanical respirators. The health state of 2 seniors (aged: 79 and 96) is delicate, whereas 2 other people have already been discharged.
"As we had warned that the number of citizens with infection was going to continue increasing, we have already managed to conduct tests on 3,841 people, thus registering 234 infected citizens to date," he expressed.
The top official explained that —although there is a significant increase over the previous day— there is no need to worry because the increase curve of those infected is as expected.
In this sense, he indicated that those —who had come from overseas— had no symptoms first and began to circulate around their places of work, study, and entourage, thus infecting more people.
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Now, with this (mandatory social) immobilization and
isolation, we want to cut this cycle of contagion; we already have an infected population, but we do not want it (the contagion) to continue. That is why we decreed this state of emergency (…) which will lead to satisfactory results," he added.
Immobilization
Mr. Vizcarra added that the Armed Forces and the police will enforce this rule.
On this occasion, the President was joined by members of the Council of Ministers. The event was held at the Government Palace in Lima.