Andina

Peru's Health Min urges people not to lower guard against COVID-19, despite downward trend

Photo: ANDINA

Photo: ANDINA

21:21 | Lima, May. 25.

Health Minister Oscar Ugarte urged the population not to lower the guard against COVID-19, on the contrary, he encouraged them to redouble the preventive measures.

Remarks were made as he noted that there is a downward trend in new cases and deaths from COVID-19, except in specific cases like in Arequipa region.

"We hope that —despite specific situations in some regions such as Arequipa— this will be overcome, and the downward trend will continue in the coming weeks, so that we can say that the second wave has reached the final portion of the descent stage," he stated.

In a press conference on Monday, the government official reaffirmed that "we should not lower the guard but, on the contrary, become much more vigilant," and redouble the preventive measures against COVID-19.

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) sent 24 healthcare workers to Arequipa to staff Honorio Delgado Espinoza and Goyeneche hospitals, which are reporting an increase in cases, so as to strengthen response actions against COVID-19.

The delegation —made up of 13 doctors and 11 nurses— was deployed by the General Directorate for Disaster Risk Management and National Defense in Health (Digerd) to combat the worse moment of the second wave in said region of southern Peru. 

The second group, comprised of 15 health professionals, will arrive on Wednesday from Ica region. In addition, Digerd will send a ton of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.

Minister Ugarte reiterated his call for political groups to avoid holding mass gatherings, because this certainly contributes to spreading the pandemic, though it is not the intention of political leaders.

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.

People are encouraged to keep a distance from others, wear a face mask or a face shield when using public transportation, wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, among other measures.

(END) JOT/RMB

Published: 5/25/2021