Monthly Archives: March 2020

Peru and Cusco in Quarantine – Day 16

Posted on by Posted in Coronavirus, Cusco, Peru 1 Comment

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Yesterday’s announcement of earlier curfew hours takes effect today and the country will be quiet even earlier than ever. I’m not really a night person so this doesn’t affect me much. If it helps get us through this crisis faster, then I am for it 100%.

Daily Presidential Address and Government Report

Some very interesting new developments came out of today’s Presidential address and the accompanying comments by various government Ministers.

COVID-19 Across Peru

The President opened by saying that 115 new cases of COVID-19 reported yesterday bringing the nationwide total to 1065. He commented that the total is doubling about every 5 days. One positive is that the recent rapid rise in the percentage of positive tests stopped for at least a day as the % went down a little. (Keep in mind, that the data is still probably too small and for too short a period to reveal much of significance yet.)

Confirmed cases have been reported in Lima (799), followed by the regions of Loreto (58), Lambayeque (30), Cusco (26), Arequipa (26), Callao (25), Piura (21), La Libertad (19), Junin (17), Ancash (11), Tumbes (10), San Martin (6), Huanuco (6), Ica (5), Tacna (2), Ayacucho (1), Madre de Dios (1), Cajamarca (1), and Pasco (1).

Another positive is that one of the northern regions of concern, La Libertad, is showing a decrease in daily cases and there are now 30 confirmed deaths reported across the country.

He also reported that another 3,000 people were detained yesterday in violation of the quarantine/curfew bringing the nationwide total to over 36,000!

Important Announcements Regarding Education

Of great interest was that school will be start again on April 6 through remote (online) education. Details were not immediately available, but the President is looking at this as a great opportunity to change the landscape of education of Peru and bring it more into the modern world.

“The proposal is ambitious,” he said, “but with the support of society, it will be an opportunity to qualitatively improve our education.”

“We have to work to avoid neglecting education,” he added. “We, as a state, have been working on a fiber optic backbone, but it is used very little. The network is there. It is at this moment that we have to activate it.”

School food programs will recommence on April 6 and they are proposing that Monday, May 4, mark a return to classroom classes!

Support for the Elderly

The Minister for Development and Social Inclusion said that they are working on building a protection network for the elderly.

She says that they will be using a huge group of volunteers — mostly young people, many of whom are health students — who will be contacting older adults by telephone.

Hints About the Future?

Several hints about where this is all going were included in today’s address. Besides the goal of beginning normal classroom education on May 4, he also commented that “it is not on the 13th that everything returns to normal. It is a gradual process.”

Perhaps President’s most important and relevant statement was that “There will be a before and after for Peru and the world regarding COVID-19. Our country will not be the same and we have to adopt a series of attitudes.”

I have a feeling that the President is looking at this crisis as an opportunity to make great improvements and move the country forward in a way that might not have been easily achieved without the present world-wide challenge.

The clear skies each evening will hard to give up when we return to normalcy once day. This is the view from my office window. The city goes quiet around sunset and takes on an atmosphere than can be described.

Cusco Changes Rules for Local Mercados

As a response to the huge crowds filling many local neighborhood markets last Saturday, new rules have been set as a response.

Mercados will only be only until 1 pm and will be closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Only one person per family will be allowed to enter and face masks are required.



———————————–

Please feel free to leave a comment below. I love to hear what people think! If you like this, you can share this page with the links below or even subscribe so that you’ll be notified when I post again. (I don’t sell anything here, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Peru and Cusco in Quarantine – Day 15

Posted on by Posted in Coronavirus, Cusco, Peru Leave a comment

Monday, March 30, 2020

The start of the second 2 week period of the national mandatory quarantine. The first 2 weeks actually went by a lot quicker than I expected, but it’s pretty easy for me. I worry for my Peruvian friends who are quite stressed about what is happening. For a city that depends so much on tourism, the stress is amplified in Cusco.

Obviously, the biggest event today is an expansion of the curfew hours across the country:

Curfew Hours Tightened Across Peru

This afternoon President Vizcarra announced that the nightly national curfew will now begin at 6 pm and end at 5 am.

The exception is for the regions of Tumbes, Lambayeque, Piura, La Libertad, and Loreto where the curfew will begin at 4 pm.

This doesn’t come as a surprise as the government has been complaining about the lack of compliance in the northern provinces almost since the quarantine/curfew began.

Vizcarra noted that more 33,000 people have failed to comply since the State of Emergency took effect on March 16.

Fewer Cases of COVID-19 Reported, but % Continues to Rise

The number of cases rose by 98 bringing the total to 950 across Peru. While the number is much lower than yesterday, the number of tests performed was considerably less, too. About 12.5% of tested were confirmed to have the coronavirus.

Without information about who is being tested and under what circumstances, though, it’s really impossible to gather much from this data.

Confirmed cases have been reported in Lima (718), followed by the regions of Loreto (53), Cusco (25), Callao (24), Lambayeque (22), Piura (21), Arequipa (21), La Libertad (15), Junin (13), Ancash (11), Tumbes (8), Ica (5), San Martin (5), Huanuco (4), Ayacucho (1), Madre de Dios (1), Cajamarca (1), Pasco (1), and Tacna (1).

US Embassy Position on US Citizens under Medical Quarantine

10:00 am – Alert: Flight Update & Request for Information U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru

Location: Peru (countrywide)

Event: To date, approximately 2,800 Americans have departed Peru. Two flights will be departing today, one each from Lima and Cusco. Buses bringing U.S. citizens from the Ica region (Ica City, Pisco, and Paracas) are currently en route to Lima for the citizens’ return to the United States. A similar operation will bring travelers from the Trujillo area to Lima tomorrow. The approximately 120 Americans repatriated from Arequipa have now reached the United States.

We are aware of cases in which Americans were placed under quarantine in facilities where they are staying. Quarantine measures due to the outbreak of COVID-19 are enforced by Peru’s Ministry of Health (MINSA), and exceptions are not made for international tourists. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Julie Chung and Chargé d’affaires Denison Offutt spoke with Peruvian government officials at the highest levels to address the issue. We are working to ensure that travelers placed under quarantine have access to appropriate food and healthy living conditions. In the meantime, we remind all U.S. citizens to adhere to the Peruvian government’s quarantine measures.

If you still seek our assistance in returning to the United States, and HAVE NOT already done so, we ask that you please fill out this online flight registration form immediately for EACH member of your party so that we can continue to assist you.

U.S. Embassy Lima – Repatriation Flight Registration (https://bit.ly/3bx5ons)

For Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Lima, Perú
Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n
Surco, Lima 33
+51-1-618-2000
LimaACS@state.gov
https://pe.usembassy.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
Peru Country Information
To receive alerts, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (https://step.state.gov). Need help? Email: CASTEP@state.gov

———————————–

Please feel free to leave a comment below. I love to hear what people think! If you like this, you can share this page with the links below or even subscribe so that you’ll be notified when I post again. (I don’t sell anything here, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Peru and Cusco in Quarantine – Day 14

Posted on by Posted in Coronavirus, Cusco, Peru 5 Comments

Sunday, March 29, 2020

Today marks two weeks since the state of National Emergency was declared by President Vizcarra.

To be honest, it has gone by a lot faster than I expected. With two more weeks to go, though, all of us here wonder what the next two weeks will look like and how we will deal with the prospect of another extension of the quarantine and curfew.

After you finish reading the important stuff here, make sure you scroll through to the last section for me little opinion section on some stuff that has been on mind lately. I would love to hear read your own opinions and comments, of course.

Daily Government Updates from Peru

Every day the government updates the country on a variety of issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The President is not making a daily statement today as usual, but tomorrow there will a virtual press conference in which “new measures will be announced as part of the State of Emergency.”

The number of COVID-19 cases in Peru made a big jump to 852 as 181 new cases were announced this morning. That was about 10% of the new tests announced which was a huge jump from previous dates.

The most reported cases so far are in Lima (639) followed by the regions of Loreto (52), Callao (29), Lambeyeque (22), Piura (21), Cusco (17), Arequipa (15), Junin (13), La Libertad (13), Tumbes (8), Ancash (6), Ica (5), Huanuco (4), San Martin (3), Ayacucho (1), Cajamarca (1), Madre de Dios (1), Pasco (1) and Tacna (1).

Interestingly, the Health Minister Victor Zamora didn’t seem too concerned for the nation as he noted that, except for the region of Loreto (Iquitos) where there has apparently been a serious lack of compliance, the numbers remain fairly stable. He also indicated that new “social control measures” were likely coming. I think the government is really getting tired of dealing with Iquitos.

This morning the Health Ministry also announced that there have been two more deaths relating to COVID-19. One was a 91-year-old man in Lima and the other was was 66-year-old “morbidly obese” woman in Chimbote. (Obesity is consistently being identified around the world as a high risk factor for all ages.)

Morning Update from the US Embassy in Lima

10:00 am – To date (Mar. 29, 2020), the U.S. Embassy repatriated 2300 Americans. Today, three more flights are scheduled as part of our continuing efforts to bring U.S. Citizens home.

Yesterday, we introduced a Repatriation Flight Registration Form (https://bit.ly/3bx5ons) to quickly and efficiently compile traveler information. We received more than 2800 responses, which are helping our team identify and repatriate Americans more quickly and efficiently. If you have not already done so, we strongly encourage you to complete this form so that we can provide the assistance you need.

Through constant high-level coordination with the Government of Peru, we have secured the rapid deployment of charter repatriation flights. As more flights are scheduled, we will make every effort to inform you as quickly as possible, to ensure that you and your family have enough time to respond accordingly.

If you have received confirmation that you are on a flight, please show up at the designated rally point, not at the airport. Military airport access restrictions hinder our ability to assist those who go directly to the airfield.

We are working hard to bring #AmericansHome.

For Assistance:

U.S. Embassy Lima, Perú
Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n
Surco, Lima 33
+51-1-618-2000
LimaACS@state.gov
https://pe.usembassy.gov

State Department – Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444

To receive alerts, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (https://step.state.gov). Need help? Email: CASTEP@state.gov

Report: Argentine Couple Detained in Cusco

RPP Noticias reported this afternoon that an Argentine couple was detained on Avenida El Sol for failing to “comply with the mandatory social isolation.” They were reportedly disrespectful to the police (which probably didn’t help the situation.)

Some Thoughts That Have Been on My Mind for Awhile

Today marks two weeks since the state of National Emergency was declared by President Vizcarra.

To be honest, it has gone by a lot faster than I expected. With two more weeks to go, though, all of us here wonder what the next two weeks will look like and how we will deal with the prospect of another extension of the quarantine and curfew.

I’ve seen expats here, just like in the US, pick and choose which news they want to believe. If the news doesn’t fit what what they want to be true, they say the source does nothing but lie and spread fake news, but they wrap themselves up in news they like coming from the exact same news source! The irony is seemingly lost on them.

As in the US, it’s impossible to have intelligent conversations about important issues with people here who don’t have the mental capacity to move past irrational emotion and discuss facts.

Okay, enough of my little rant. Had to get that off my chest this morning as I watch the situation in the US rapidly descend thanks to a lack of national leadership while Peru immediately took action based on real science and the needs of the citizens, not partisan politics. (I wish someone would tell me why they believe COVID-19 is Republican or Democrat.)

———————————–

Please feel free to leave a comment below. I love to hear what people think! If you like this, you can share this page with the links below or even subscribe so that you’ll be notified when I post again. (I don’t sell anything here, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Peru and Cusco in Quarantine – Day 13

Posted on by Posted in Coronavirus, Cusco, Peru 2 Comments

Saturday, March 28, 2020

We are nearly 2 weeks into the national quarantine and curfew with at least another two weeks remaining.

Things remain calm in Cusco with stores remaining fully stocked, nearly everyone going out wearing masks, and most people applying social distancing in their public interactions.

However, there are reports of local markets being very crowded this morning.

Daily Presidential Address

In his daily address to the nation, President Vizcarra reported 36 new cases of COVID-19 in Peru. This was about 4.3% of the number tested which is a significant drop. Though it’s a short period, it is encouraging.

Confirmed cases have been reported in Lima (518), followed by the regions of Loreto (27), Piura (20), Callao (18), Arequipa (15), Lambayeque (15), Junin (12), Cusco (11), La Libertad (10), Ancash (6), Tumbes (6), Huanuco (4), Ica (4), San Martin (2), Madre de Dios (1), Cajamarca (1), and Pasco (1).

(I’m not sure why there is a discrepancy, but the Regional Health Directorate of Cusco reported 14 cases yesterday.)

He again addressed those who are not complying with the quarantine and the curfew, saying that that a list of violators has been created and “their irresponsibility will not go unpunished… Think twice because you are going to face criminal proceedings.”

Five New Deaths Reported in Peru

The Health Ministry is reporting five deaths yesterday across the country bringing the total to 16.

They are: a 50-year-old man in Chiclayo, a 66-year-old man in Lima, a 43-year-old man in Lima reportedly suffering from obesity, a 64-year-old man from Hong Kong who died in Cusco, and a 60-year-old woman in Bellavista (Callao region.)

Cusco Today: Observations on a Shopping Trip

Apparently not everyone in Cusco is following the requirements of social distancing. I went to El Mercado Roasaspata this morning and it was pretty crowded with few worrying about distancing. While there were police patrolling the market, they didn’t appear to be trying to enforce spacing.

Fortunately just about everyone was wearing face masks.

Not much social distancing on this Saturday morning in my local market.


The local news is reporting large crowds gathering in other markets, particularly in Huancaro and Tica Tica, today.

I also went to the local Orion supermarket (near Plaza Tupac Amaru) this morning and they are strictly enforcing rules about allowing only one person per family to enter. There were a lot of people waiting outside while a single family member did the shopping inside.

Inside everyone was patient, calm, and friendly. If you live near this store, it’s a great place to do your shopping in a well-stocked place.

The streets seemed busier than usual and there were more buses running, but it still wasn’t bad with everyone staying apart and wearing masks.

I did notice a couple of small groups in my neighborhood of Zaguan del Cielo gathered to talk and laugh. Honestly, I’m surprised I haven’t seen more of this over the last few weeks.

Visiting the big Plaza Vea Supermarket

I walked to the Plaza Real mall yesterday where the only store open is the huge Plaza Vea supermarket. The north entrance is completely closed so I had to walk back around the block and go in the south entrance from Av de la Cultura.

I was surprised by the large crowds of people walking in and out. The mall entrance was closed to cars so everyone has to enter on foot. Once I got to the store entrance it was clear that they were enforcing limited and regulated entries into the store. By the time I got in line, it was about 40 meters long. Within ten minutes the line had grown to over 150 meters!

I know, it’s not a great photo, but it’ll give you an idea of what it was like yesterday. Security personnel were actively asking people to spread out so as to keep the required 1 meter separation.

Fortunately, the people were exiting quickly so I was in the second group to enter and was inside within about 10 minutes. (By the time I left about 45 minutes later, the line outside was only a few people so it appeared they are moving people in and out really quickly.)

Inside the store, it was much more crowded than expected, the surprisingly the usual lines at the check out registers were almost non-existent. Despite the markers on the floor intended to keep customers a meter apart, there was no one standing in any of the lines. Apparently they had most of the registers open which is a concept that Walmart in the U.S. should consider!

I didn’t need a lot so I was out pretty quickly. Everything was well stocked and the only thing missing was fresh chicken. (One of the things I went to buy was fresh chicken wings!)

This is just one more example of the country, the city, and the residents here handling this challenging situation so much better than many places in the world.


———————————

Please feel free to leave a comment below. I love to hear what people think! If you like this, you can share this page with the links below or even subscribe so that you’ll be notified when I post again. (I don’t sell anything here, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Virtual Exhibition at Lima’s Fabulous Museo Larco

Posted on by Posted in Peru 1 Comment

Okay, so maybe you can’t get to Peru as you planned right now. Or maybe you’re stranded here and you can’t get out of your hostal.

I know it isn’t the same, but the incredibly Museo Larco in Lima has an online exhibition that is certainly worth experiencing. I’ve been there before and the collection is nothing short of amazing.

You can check out the online exhibition here:

Museo Larco Online Exhibition


——————————

Please feel free to leave a comment below. I love to hear what people think! If you like this, you can share this page with the links below or even subscribe so that you’ll be notified when I post again. (I don’t sell anything here, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Peru and Cusco in Quarantine – Day 12

Posted on by Posted in Coronavirus, Cusco, Peru Leave a comment

Friday, March 27, 2020

Today is a new day with everyone knowing we are now looking at (at least) a 28-day quarantine/curfew period lasting until April 12. (You can read more about the announcement here: Quarantine and Curfew Extended 13 Days in Peru.)

I’ll be updating this continually during the day as new and relevant information becomes available. Please check back regularly and be sure to click the “refresh/reload” button on your browser so updates are shown.

I was going to do an end-of-day update each evening, but since there is likely information that will be released during the day that is important to be shared quickly, I’m going to update this post during the day. For that reason, again I emphasize that you need to click the “refresh/reload” button on your browser or updates will not likely show up.

Daily Presidential Address to the Nation

A lot of the President’s comments today regard the government’s economic plans including expanding payments to Peruvians need financial assistance.

If you heard about the huge order of tests received by Spain that turned out to be defective, the Health Ministry today reported that they are purchasing from a different provider.

The Head of the National Police said that La Libertad/Trujillo leads the nation in violations of the quarantine and curfew with 7446 arrests since March 18!

Coronavirus Cases Increases to 635

55 new cases were reported by the Health Ministry today out of 846 tests performed. The good news is that only 6.5% of the tests came back positive compared the 8.5% the day before.

About 20% fewer tests were performed, though no reason was given for this. Hopefully this indicates that fewer people complained of symptoms requiring testing.

So far confirmed cases have been reported in the Lima (494), followed by the regions of Loreto (23), Piura (20), Callao (17), Arequipa (15), Lambayeque (13), Junin (12), Cusco (10), La Libertad (9), Ancash (6), Tumbes (5), Huanuco (4), Ica (3), Madre de Dios (1), San Martin (1), Cajamarca (1), and Pasco (1).

Sadly, two more deaths were reported bringing the nationwide total to 11. One was a 56-year-old man in Trujillo. The other was a 65-year-old man in Lima with a history of brain cancer.

Afternoon Update from the US Embassy

2:30 pm – The U.S. Embassy is organizing buses for tomorrow, March 28, to bring U.S. citizens from Arequipa to Lima for their onward flight back to the United States.

Late last night, the Peruvian government approved repatriation flights through April 1, making it easier for the U.S. Embassy and airlines to place Americans on flights. The U.S. Embassy is identifying vulnerable U.S. citizens for priority flights, minimizing no-shows, and planning for operations outside Lima and Cusco.

Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra announced yesterday that quarantine measures, border closures, and a nightly curfew will continue until April 12. The U.S. Embassy recommends U.S. citizens in Peru adhere to all quarantine measures.

More than 1,200 Americans have made it home from Peru. Our team continues to work around the clock. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemispheres Affairs Julie Chung arrived today in Peru to support these efforts.

Morning Announcement from the US Embassy

10:00 am – “Yesterday, the U.S. Embassy coordinated with the Peruvian Navy to reach stranded U.S. citizens by boat in the Amazon region so they could return home. Today, two flights will leave Lima, and one will depart from Cusco.

‘If you were contacted by the U.S. Embassy last night, please proceed to the indicated rally point. If some of your family members were not included on the manifest, we will place them on a standby list at the rally point. We are making every effort to fly families together.

‘Some charter flights have had to take off without filling every available seat, a huge frustration for all of us. We know that moving from place to place has become complex, given the extraordinary public health measures now in place. If are manifested on a flight, we urge you to do everything you can to follow the instructions and to arrive on time.

‘Unfortunately, we are unable to add people on short notice due to transportation security requirements.

Our team continues to work around the clock to assist U.S. Citizens in Peru and to make more repatriation flights available.”

Peruvian Navy Brings 60 US Citizens Out of Iquitos

Yesterday the US Embassy in Lima reported that 35 US citizens were brought from outlying areas in the jungle to Iquitos so they could join 60 others in returning home.

Peru’s Executive Branch Granted Special Powers

9:25 am – This morning, Congress granted the Executive Branch special powers to legislate on issues related to health, fiscal and tax policy, and citizen security for 45 days.

Coming Changes in the Military’s Responsbilities

8:45 am – Defense Minister Walter Martos announced today that the military will begin charging those who resist and assault (including verbal assaults) soldiers carrying out their duties under the State of Emergency. He is also meeting with government attorneys today and requesting that they be allowed to detain those charged.

He also said that the military presence in northern regions will be increased and he will recommend stricter quarantine and curfew measures in the northern provinces (including Iquitos) where lax compliance is resulting in greater transmission of COVID-19.

An formal announcement is expected on these restrictions for the north of Peru later today.

———————————–

Please feel free to leave a comment below. I love to hear what people think! If you like this, you can share this page with the links below or even subscribe so that you’ll be notified when I post again. (I don’t sell anything here, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Quarantine and Curfew Extended 13 Days in Peru

Posted on by Posted in Uncategorized 3 Comments

Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra just gave his daily address to the nation in which he announced a 13-day extension of the mandatory national quarantine and curfew which includes the current border closure which should take it through April 12.

He started off by noting that there are now 580 cases of COVID-19 across the country and saying that 2,568 people were arrested yesterday alone — most were in Lima and La Libertad.

He also says that the government is evaluating restricting the current curfew hours in Loreto (Iquitos) and northern regions of the country. [Note: my Spanish is not great, but the President sounds pretty ticked off at how things are going in Loreto (Iquitos).]

Peru and Cusco in Quarantine – Day 11

Posted on by Posted in Coronavirus, Cusco, Peru Leave a comment

Thursday, March 26, 2020

The expected extension of the quarantine and curfew was announced by the President a little while ago. You can read about it here:

Quarantine and Curfew Extended 13 Days in Peru

COVID-19 Cases Continue to Rise

100 new cases of COVID-19 across the country were announced this morning bringing the total to 580.

Confirmed cases have been reported in Lima (453), followed by the regions: Piura (20), Loreto (18), Arequipa (15), Callao (15), Lambayeque (12), Junin (11), Cusco (10), La Libertad (9), Ancash (6), Tumbes (3), Ica (3), Huanuco (2), Madre de Dios (1), San Martin (1), and Cajamarca (1).

I’ve been keeping track of the percentage of tests which are confirmed positive and that number made a significant increase. While it had been holding steady around 6%, the latest figures for yesterday show an 8.5% positive rate. While this is only a one day snapshot, hopefully it doesn’t indicate a trend.

Parts of Peru Will be Getting Increased Restrictions

Peru’s Interior Minister, Carlos Morán, told RPP Noticias that the President will announce a new curfew schedule for some regions.

“It is being evaluated to extend the restriction hours in Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad and Loreto,” he said.”

I know it’s not a great picture, but this is proof that flights are coming into Cusco!

Plane Sighting in Cusco!

About 11:30 this morning I spotted a plane flying across the city before turning for the normal approach to the Cusco airport. I used to not pay any attention to planes as they came and went all day long, but now they grab my attention.

Maybe this is the flight coming in to pick up US passenger to take them to Miami (via Lima).

RPP Reports that Dozens of Tourists are Ignoring the Quarantine in Cusco

RPP just reported that “dozens” of tourists are ignoring the quarantine and going out in the historical center of Cusco.

Personally, I’ve seen large groups out without masks seemingly oblivious to the quarantine. Some have been escorted back to their place of residence by police and others have not. Perhaps it would be a good idea if the police started arresting people who are deliberately ignoring the State of Emergency as they are doing in other parts of Peru.

Peruvian Executive Branch Asks for More Power to Act Quickly

The Executive Branch of the Peruvian has requested that Congress delegate to it the power to legislate on in following areas: health, fiscal and tax policy, promotion of public investment, citizen security and internal order, work and promotion of employment and education.

Health Ministry Recommends Extension of Quarantine

Early this morning, the Minister of Health, Victor Zamora, said they are recommending an extension of the quarantine. He did not give a specific time they are recommending.

The Council of Ministers is meeting now look at all the data and they “hope” to make a decision today.

Early Morning Update from the US Embassy

Three flights for U.S. citizens are scheduled to depart Peru today: a flight from Iquitos to Miami, from Lima to Miami, & from Cusco to Miami via Lima. Please do not travel to the airport until you have received notification from us with confirmed flight details.

The Peruvian Government will release their final decision today on extending the State of Emergency and mandatory quarantine. We will disseminate this final decision via email and social media once announced.

[IMPORTANT NOTE: Unless the Embassy has been informed of something new, there is no guarantee that a decision on an extension of the quarantine will be made today. Though it’s expected, the President only said yesterday that the Council of Ministers “hopes” to make a decision today based after analyzing the latest data.]

Suspension of Payments Due for Utilities Proposed

The Popular Action (Acción Popular) caucus presented a bill to Congress that proposes the suspension for two months of the collection of water, electricity, gas, landline and cellular services, during the emergency by COVID-19.

Peru and Cusco in Quarantine – Day 10

Posted on by Posted in Coronavirus, Cusco, Peru 4 Comments

Update from the US Embassy in Lima

“

2:30 pm – “We want you to know that we are making progress.

‘Today close to 300 more U.S. citizens departed Peru on two flights from Lima and Cusco. We have now repatriated close to 1,000 U.S. citizens. We know we are not finished and we will continue our efforts until we repatriate all U.S. citizens seeking to return home.”

Possible Announcement on Quarantine Extension Tomorrow

President Vizcarra said this afternoon that the government hopes to make an announcement tomorrow as to whether the current state of emergency will be extended. He didn’t elaborate except to say that the Council of Ministers will look at everything and hope to make a decision rather than wait.

In other words, stayed tuned!

Big Jump in Number of COVID-19 cases

The Health Ministry announced that the number of new cases increased by 64 to bring the total in Peru to 480.

Confirmed cases have been reported in the capital city of Lima (369), followed by the regions of Piura (19), Loreto (18), Lambayeque (12), Junin (11), Arequipa (10), Callao (10), Cusco (10), La Libertad (6), Ancash (5), Tumbes (3), Huanuco (2), Ica (2), Madre de Dios (1), San Martin (1), and Cajamarca (1).

There have been none deaths and 7,560 samples have tested negative for COVID-19. That’s almost 1000 new negative test results.

Latest Update from the US Embassy in Lima

10:30 am – The Embassy posted this update:

Senior U.S. officials maintained constant communication with the Government of Peru throughout March 24 to secure permissions for flights to land on March 25 to repatriate U.S. citizens. At 11:15PM on March 24, the U.S. Embassy received final permission for the landing of a Lima-Miami flight and a Cusco-Lima-Miami. Manifested passengers received instructions via email less than ten minutes after the flights were approved. We continue to engage at the highest level to ensure that repatriation flights continue so that we can get our U.S. citizens home to their families and friends.

We understand the quarantine makes movements to the airport difficult. The U.S. Embassy continues to negotiate those details with the Peruvian government and local authorities so that U.S. Citizens have safe and unhindered passage to the airports.

For Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru
Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n
Surco, Lima 33
+51-1-618-2000
LimaACS@state.gov
https://pe.usembassy.gov
State Department – Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
Peru Country Information
To receive alerts, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). Need help? Email: CASTEP@state.gov.

Health Ministry to Increase Number of More Reliable Tests

Back on March 19, Peruvian President Vizcarra announced that the country was purchasing 1.6 million tests as the amount testing at that time was “not enough.”

That number included 200,000 molecular test kits which are considered more reliable. Today the Health Minister Victor Zamora said that number has been increased to 300,000.

“Rest assured that we will continue to use molecular testing as the first-line method. The others (rapid tests) are part of our arsenal used in an extremely high volatility situation like the one we are experiencing,” Zamora said.


My Wednesday Morning Thoughts from Cusco

Things here have been quite calm throughout the quarantine. People seem to be going about their daily lives as bet they can under the circumstances.

I’ve heard reports about issues with tourists who are not complying with the rules of the quarantine and curfew. There have been some arrests reported which doesn’t surprise me at all.

From my handful of interactions with the police, they seem to be patient with tourists to a point, but when that patient runs out their first responsibility is to their country. Tourists should remember that they are not at home and they are guests of Peru.

The streets are quiet with only a handful of cars and buses running. Almost everyone is wearing face masks when they are outside which are being required to enter many of the markets and supermarkets.

It’s amazing to catch myself walking down the middle of streets that before were major thoroughfares simply because there is no longer any real traffic. I’ve seen people stopping and talking in the middle of these same avenues — from a distance, of course! — as if they’re in the park.

This laundry just down from the Mercado San Blas tried to cheat me a long time ago and I stopped going. Since they appeared to the be the only one open in my neighborhood, I gave them another try. Big mistake.

About the only inconvenience for me — and it is a very minor one — is the lack of laundries open. There is one near Mercado San Blas on Lucrepata that is open, though they appear to be hiding from the police. They are charging customers 2-3 times normal prices and just laughed when I mentioned it. I had a problem with this particular place trying to cheat me out of extra money before so I stopped using them. There are honest lavanderias in town and I don’t need to support one who isn’t.

I hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected under these challenging circumstances. Please comment and let me know how you’re doing and how you’re handling the situation. (You can also subscribe to be notified when I make regular updates.)

Making Up Blame is a Bad Look for Stranded US Tourists

Posted on by Posted in Coronavirus, Peru 2 Comments

There is a Politico article that is being tossed around on some of the “Stranded in Peru” Facebook groups that is being used by apparently the uneducated to blame the Peruvian government for their inability to return home.

I reached my limit with this and responded with this post on one of the groups:

“Come on folks! This article is getting passed around all over the internet and people are using it as a reason to blame everything on Peru.

What is their source — a single (one!) unnamed “US official”. Anyone who know even the most basics of journalism 101 knows you get multiple confirmations from multiple sources.

And they also quote a named, on the record Peruvian source that disputes that. No one seems to mention that part of the article, do they?

Stop acting like your watching Fox News and looking for someone to blame without evidence.

Whatever happened to critical thinking skills…”

March 24, 2020

While it may be true, there is nothing in the article than indicates anything is Peru’s fault.

Apply a little logic here — what would be Peru’s reason for this? Hmmm, let’s piss off the US government and promote a ton of bad publicity because you want to get your own citizens flown back for free.

Of course, this whole claim by that unnamed official somehow ignored the fact that the Peruvian government had already allocated about $3 million to bring it’s citizens home and is paying for flights back from all over the world.

That part was somehow left out.

Whatever happened to critical thinking skills…

———————————–

Something else that was posted today was a video in which the poster claimed it showed that a tourist was “stuffed” in a police car. He used this to attack both the Peruvian police and military and said the US Embassy the State Department should be made aware that civil rights were being denied here.

First of all, the suspension of some rights was announced nine days ago directly by the President of Peru when he decreed the current State of Emergency across the country. I’m pretty sure that the US Embassy and the State Department didn’t miss something like this. In fact, pretty much everyone who bothered to pay minimal attention knew this.

Except for him.

He also admitted that he had no idea who was in the video. He didn’t know if the person getting in the back of the car — obviously not “stuffed” — was a tourist or not. For all he knew, the person was a elderly, disabled woman getting a ride home from the grocery store.

Huh? He admitted he lied just to go on the attack of things of which he was totally ignorant.

————————————

I know the difficulty of getting information in a challenging time is incredibly frustrating when you just want to go home. However, I fail to see the purpose of trying to place blame on someone when you have no evidence if it’s really their fault.

I know that’s how things have gotten in the US the past few years, but I wouldn’t suggest making yourself look really bad by doing it. Stop, think about what you’re doing and saying, and keep trying to do the right thing. Blaming Peru for the effects of COVID-19 that are out of their control is a bad look.