Targeted quarantine in the provinces of Abancay, Huamanga, and Huanuco has been lifted today, October 5, although mandatory social immobilization (curfew) on Sundays will remain in force to control the spread of COVID-19.
Abancay (Apurimac region), Huamanga (Ayacucho region), and Huanuco (Huanuco region) were the only provinces under targeted quarantine.
According to the Peruvian National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control (CDC) of the
Ministry of Health (Minsa), the number of new cases is on a downward trend. Hence its recommendation to lift the quarantine measure.
On Sundays, mandatory social immobilization will be in force all day long until 4:00 am the next day in the abovementioned provinces, as well as in the regions of Cusco, Puno, Moquegua, and Tacna, according to
Supreme Decree No. 162-2020-PCM published in
El Peruano official gazette.
Restrictions
During the curfews, strictly necessary personnel —who participate in the provision of food supply, health, medicine, financial and home food delivery services, as well as those who ensure the continued delivery of water, sanitation, electricity, gas, fuel, telecommunications services and related activities— will be exempted from mandatory social immobilization.
The staff in charge of cleaning and solid waste collection; funeral services; cargo-merchandise transportation; economic resumption-related activities; and valuables transportation —as stipulated by the ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC)— are also shielded from the order.
During mandatory social immobilization, pharmacies and drugstores are allowed to operate according to the provision thereon.
Written, radio, and television press members are allowed to be outside during the period of mandatory social immobilization provided that they carry their special transit permits, respective badges, and ID cards for identification purposes. The authorization includes mobile units that transport them.
In addition, the people who require urgent or emergency medical attention —because their health is at serious risk— are allowed to circulate as well.
Invisible and deadly enemy
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) or the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). These viruses can be transmitted between animals and people.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a new strain that had not been previously identified in humans. It is transmitted from human to human through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. COVID-19 is also transmitted by close contact with people infected by the virus.
(END) JOT/RMB
Published: 10/5/2020