Author Archives: Philip

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Today marks the second anniversary of my permanent move to Peru in 2018. I haven’t regretted it for a single day.

The morning started out with a couple of spectacular scenes that really got the day off right. The first was an incredible double rainbow that went from horizon to horizon. The second was a beautiful sight out my office window of the morning sunrise touching the mountains across the valley.

Presidential Press Conference

President Vizcarra and the Council of Ministers held a press conference this afternoon. Vizcarra opened by giving the latest COVID numbers, then talked about the current crisis with the availability of oxygen. With prices going as high as 5000 soles a bottle, he said they are declaring it a “strategic health resource” allowing them to take further action to increase production and provide what is necessary across the country.

Interestingly, Peru is still using hydroxychloroquine despite multiple studies that show it’s lack of usefulness and it’s potential harm.

Phase 2 of the economic recovery is starting with the goal of activating 83% of the economy.

Rocío Barrios, Minister of Production, said that “the resumption of activities in Phase 2 includes approximately 780 thousand companies. Of these 780,000, 92% are micro-enterprises that will be able to start operations.”

Vizcarra also attacked the kind of petty, dishonest party politics that are being carried out across social media during a time when Peru should be coming together to defeat the current crisis.

State of Health Emergency Extended 90 Days

The Peruvian Government extended for 90 days the state of health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decree published today in the official newspaper El Peruano provides for the extension of the measure from next Wednesday, June 10. The state of emergency aims to “guarantee public health service in cases where there is a high risk of damage” to the lives of citizens and “reduce the negative impact” of the epidemic on the population. The Government declared the state of emergency by COVID-19 for the first time on March 11.

The supreme decree published this Thursday states that the Ministry of Health, the National Institute of Health and EsSalud, carry out the immediate actions developed in the “Action Plan-Surveillance, containment and care of cases of the new COVID-19 in Peru”.

Once the state of health emergency has been extended, the authorities responsible for implementing the Action Plan must report on the activities and resources implemented, as well as the results achieved.

Phase 2 of the Economic Recovery

The Government published a Decree that establishes the beginning of the second phase of the economic reactivation, with which it seeks to make the country operate at more than 80%. In this new phase they have decided to relax a number of criteria to facilitate the reopening of companies and the recovery of employment.

Unlike the first phase in this new stage, the resumption of activities will be automatic once companies have registered their “Plan for the surveillance, prevention and control of COVID-19 in the workplace” with the Integrated System for COVID-19 (SICOVID-19) of the Ministry of Health.

In the first phase of reactivation, companies were required to submit these protocols, but before they could operate again they had to wait for approval from the relevant sector ministry, the Ministry of Health and, in some cases, even from the district municipalities.

Daily COVID Update from Minsa

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) announced 4,284 new COVID-19 cases bringing the over all total across Peru to 183,198.

There are 9,063 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, of which 1,005 are in ICU with mechanical ventilation. So far 76,228 people have completed their period of home isolation or have been discharged from a health facility. There were 137 new deaths reported bringing the total so far to 5,031.

Lima continues to be the region with the highest number of Covid-19 infections to date with 108,680 followed by the regions of Callao (13 291), Piura (9510), Lambayeque (9440), Loreto (5757), La Libertad (5392), Ancash (5048), Ucayali (5023), Arequipa (3961), Ica (3919), Junín (2089), San Martín (1662), Tumbes (1489), Cusco (1174), Huanuco (1068), Cajamarca (882), Ayacucho (862), Amazonas (680), Madre de Dios (600), Moquegua (561), Pasco (512), Huancavelica (487), Tacna (468), Puno (422) and Apurimac (221).

Government Tries to Address Shortages of Oxygen

Though it has been a problem for quite awhile, there has been a renewed push to force the government to deal with the shortages of oxygen and the skyrocketing prices (thousands of soles for one bottle appear common) for a bottle of oxygen that might be necessary to save a person’s life.

The Minister of Defense, Walter Martos, informed this Thursday that the Executive is planning to issue a regulation to declare access to oxygen, a vital input for patients with COVID, of national interest. “Today a regulation is surely coming out that empowers the State, and oxygen is being considered an element of national interest,” he said.

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) will buy oxygen balloons in view of the shortage of this vital product to attend the cases of patients with the COVID-19 in hospitals nationwide and the increase in its price in the market, announced Victor Zamora, Minister of Health.

Second Phase of Recovery to Focus on Small Business

The second phase of the Reactiva Peru Program will emphasize meeting financial requirements of micro and small-sized enterprises (MSEs) so as to tackle the health crisis and restore the payment chain, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has reported.

Director General of Financial and Private Social Security Markets at MEF Oscar Graham noted that the latest changes to said program were made to achieve such goal. “The maximum loan amounts for micro-sized enterprises were increased and loan conditions became more flexible, prioritizing smaller companies,” he told Andina news agency. 

Supreme Decree No. 124-2020-EF —which made changes to the Reactiva Peru Program— increased the maximum loan amounts for micro-sized enterprises from 1 to 3 months of average monthly sales.

It also provided that, in the case of micro-sized enterprises that cannot document a level of sales that reflects their actual transactions will be able to access Reactiva Peru Program financing —based on their credit history— of up to S/40,000 (around US$11,751).

Misc News Highlights

• The Supervisory Body for Private Investment in Telecommunications (Osiptel) decided to postpone the date for operators to suspend telecommunications services for non-payment until 15 June.

COVID Reports from Across Peru

Most Regional Health Directorates post graphics each day on the current situation in their region each day. I’m going to try to keep up with these as best as I can for those regions that are particularly problematic so people can keep up with what is specifically happening in other parts of the country where there are particularly serious problems.

Most regions post daily reports late on the night before (but not all) so this is the latest information available. (Be sure to click on individual graphics to see a larger size.You might have to click on the top half of the graphic to click. Sorry, it’s a bug I haven’t been able to solve.)

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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 or get any commission from any place I recommend, so you don’t have to worry about that.)




Wednesday, June 3, 2020

If you missed this morning’s Part 1 post about Minsa’s new rules of exercise and the announcement that domestic travel will come in July, you can read it here: Peru and and Cusco in Quarantine – Day 80 (Part 1)

Reactivation Costs: US$ 32.17 Billion So Far

Peru’s Economy and Finance Minister Maria Antonieta on Tuesday reported that the measures approved to combat the COVID-19 pandemic through May 31 totaled S/110.089 billion (about US$32.171 billion), which represented 14.5% of GDP.

During her virtual presentation before Congress’ COVID-19 Emergency Monitoring and Disaster Risk Management Commission, Alva said that the containment and reactivation plan approved by the Government accounts for a 17% boost of GDP (worth over S/120 billion = over US$35.067 billion).

“The remaining space will be used basically for the reactivation stage (…) the fiscal prudence applied by the governments over the last three decades allows us to execute the most ambitious plan in the region,” she said.

Likewise, the Cabinet member specified that the approved measures are grouped into three instruments: tax actions, expense actions, and other instruments.

Within this framework, Minister Alva explained that the plan executed until May 31 was based on four axes: emergency care (S/2.754 billion = US$805 million), support for families (S/22.426 billion = US$6.553 billion), support for companies (S/12.608 billion = US$3.684 billion), as well as support for the payment chain and the economy (S/72.301 billion = US$21.128 billion)

Furthermore, Alva pointed out that S/1.872 billion (about US$547 million) was executed for the strengthening of health services (Emergency Response Axis) through a bonus for: health personnel; improvement of hospitals infrastructure, laboratories, and others; as well as acquisition of tests. It included strengthening of the emergency line, funeral services, as well as the implementation of care and isolation centers.

Moreover, S/607 million (about US$177 million) was spent on public order and the transfer of humanitarian aid through a bonus for law enforcement personnel, repatriation of fellow citizens, accommodation and food provision during isolation (14 days), transfer to the country’s interior regions, accommodation and food provision during isolation (14 days).

The funds were invested in temporary shelters for vulnerable citizens; acquisition of PPE for members of the police, military and others; supervision of medicine prices by the State-run National Institute for the Defense of Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property (Indecopi).

Minister Alva also reported that S/6.085 billion (about US$1.778 billion) has been allocated for subsidies to vulnerable families and support to independent workers, who are included in the Support for Families Axis.

Daily COVID Update from Minsa

The Ministry of Health announced that 4,030 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the nationwide total to 178,914. Today’s report is a big improvement in the percentage of positive tests from the previous two days in dropping to 17.5% compared to over 30% over the past two days.

There are 10,101 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, of which 998 are in ICU with mechanical ventilation. So far 72,319 people have completed their period of home isolation or have been discharged from a health facility. There were 127 deaths reported raising the total so far to 4,894.

Lima continues to be the region with the highest number of Covid-19 infections to date with 108,323 followed by the regions of Callao (13 171), Lambayeque (9348), Piura (7890), Loreto (5517), La Libertad (5351), Ancash (4647), Ucayali (4580), Ica (3851), Arequipa (3817), Junín (2007), San Martín (1502), Tumbes (1267), Cusco (1157), Huanuco (1013), Cajamarca (853), Ayacucho (826), Amazonas (654), Madre de Dios (611), Moquegua (525), Pasco (480), Huancavelica (465), Tacna (458), Puno (398) and Apurimac (203).

Tough Times Ahead for Cusco?

Cusco’s Director of Health Intelligence, Pablo Grajeda, said there are an average of 40 new positive cases of COVID-19 per day in the region. In an interview with RPP Noticias, he expressed his concern that the region does not have adequate “logistical support” to meet the increased demand for hospitalizations for this disease. He said that the region requires some 30 ICU beds, as it currently has nine, which are already almost at full capacity. Grajeda estimated that the most critical situation in Cusco would be registered from the second week of June.

Peruvian Football Closer to Restarting

The president of the Peruvian Football Federation, Agustín Lozano, confirmed that the health protocols for national teams and the professional league were approved. In addition, he announced that Liga 1 will be played in a single venue: Lima, with the aim of guaranteeing the health of all the players in the Peruvian championship.

“The venue will be Lima, it is a decision already taken because it comes in compliance and respect of the recommendations of the Ministry of Health”, said Agustín Lozano in “Al Angulo” of Movistar Deportes.

“The proposals presented by the clubs have been seen, but we also have to respect what the Ministry of Health said. Lima was not chosen because someone may or may not take advantage. To play in Lima is to give the framework of sports safety, but of health to each of the participants. The clubs must understand that it’s not about people’s decisions, but about analyzing the situation and choosing the scenario that can lead us to a tournament with positive results,” he added.

The director ruled out the possibility of starting from scratch as was being speculated. He also assured that there will be relegation. “I can assure you that no club will be affected since everything played has a value. Neither Alianza Universidad nor any other team will feel bad because what they have won on the pitch must be respected. On the other hand, a tournament would be meaningless if there is no relegation, so here it must be played as planned,” he added.

The FPF head also revealed that the championship will be resumed in approximately one and a half months. “I estimate that in 40-45 days the tournament can be restarted. That’s why we’re immediately calling for government approval of the protocol,” he said.

Cusco’s Plan to Rebuilding the Local Economy

Cusco will need almost three years and a budget injection of more than S/ 3.7 billion to get out of the economic recession and the Cusco Regional Government’s recovery plan provides for this amount until 2022. It includes initiatives in three phases: containment (2020), stabilization (2021) and recovery (2022).

According to the former member of Fonafe, Guido Bayro, the regional initiative is viable and remarkable, because it is the first region that has an instrument to resume economic activities. The reactivation will walk along two parallel lines: 1) measures to activate the work of some 100,000 micro, small, medium and large companies and 2) the resumption of more than 180 state works in the 13 provinces of the imperial region.

The planned investment will target eight major sectors: tourism, industry, agriculture, basic sanitation, transport and communications, health, education and energy, and mining and hydrocarbons. Regional Governor Jean Paul Benavente maintains that with these measures the path to economic activity is mapped out. The only thing missing is the commitment of all sectors.

The plan proposes that 50% of Reactiva Peru’s funds (60 billion soles) should go to microenterprises, and that the criteria for choosing beneficiaries should be made more flexible.

It also plans to create a Regional Trust to provide microcredit to day-to-day entrepreneurs with a fund of S/ 50 million. “It will be a financial institution of the region to grant loans exclusively to formal and informal entrepreneurs. It will not condition the interest rate, but rather guarantee access,” according to the plan.

Tourism will be the sector that will take the longest to recover. The president of the National Chamber of Tourism (Canatur), Carlos Canales, maintains that there will not be until next year, so any plan to reactivate it will not work.

Economist José de Echave also warns that the tourism sector will face a prolonged crisis and its reactivation will depend on the global context. As long as there are no commercial flights, the flow of tourists will be delayed.

Misc News Highlights

• The Ministry of the Interior reports that in the last month, the care and protection of police personnel from COVID-19 “has registered significant improvements” thanks to measures such as the expansion of supply at the Luis N. Saenz Central Hospital.
  
  
• Temperatures are expected to drop as low as -18°C (0° F) in high Andean areas of Cusco tonight.
  
  
• The leader of the indigenous community of Pucacuro (Trompeteros, Loreto), Emerson Mucushua, told RPP Noticias on Wednesday that 57 members of his community tested positive for COVID-19. He reported that Ministry of Health personnel applied a total of 100 tests. Pucacuro has a population of 800, and according to Mucushua’s report to RPP on May 25, some 600 community members presented symptoms of the new coronavirus.
  
  Mucushua asked authorities for help with the food supply, since other communities cannot be moved because they are in quarantine. He also requested the permanence of health personnel in the community of Pucacuro who plan to leave today to perform tests in other locations.

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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 or get any commission from any place I recommend, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

There are two really big reports coming out this morning so I’m going to post this early to spread the word.

Minsa Authorizes Physical Activity and Recreation

RPP Noticias reported last night that the Ministry of Health (Minsa) will allow from today “the progressive reincorporation of physical activity and recreation in public spaces”.

The Ministerial Resolution N° 350-2020-MINSA, published in the extraordinary edition of the standards bulletin of El Peruano, the health directive MINSA/2020/DGIESP is approved, which establishes this measure.

Activities, schedule and restrictions

The Executive Director of Health Promotion of the Minsa, Alexandro Saco Valdivia, confirmed this Tuesday to the program RPP’s Air Rotation that from Wednesday individual physical activities such as walking, walking, jogging, pilates, functional training, tai chi and yoga are authorized, but with masks.

“In this first stage the schedules allowed for physical activity are from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday, respecting the Sunday of total immobilization. In addition, it is specified that the physical activity should not exceed 60 minutes and can move up to three kilometers away from your home or to the place that the municipality of your district establishes as a place for physical activity or recreation,” he said.

Saco Valdivia explained that in this first stage, public gyms and group sports are not allowed and that the distance for people who run is five meters between each person.

“The major rule establishes that everyone who goes out into public spaces must wear a mask. They have to wear the simple mask for these activities,” he said.

Not in all districts

The Executive Director of Health Promotion of the Minsa indicated that to carry out physical activity and recreation in public spaces, the epidemiological alert on the 19 districts with high risk of contagion of the COVID-19 must be respected.

[I am assuming this is the list of regions and districts where children also are not allowed outside currently, but they were not specifically listed in the RPP article. Hopefully Minsa will clarify this today.]

“What rules is the epidemiological alert. These epidemiological alerts are being updated and changed. These epidemiological alerts are updated and changed, even in regions where curfews begin earlier,” he said.

“Maximum care”

Saco Valdivia explained that the MINSA/2020/DGIESP health directive marks three stages, the first of which runs from tomorrow until the end of the obligatory confinement established by the Executive, June 30. He said that the second stage of the regulation will allow dances, some martial arts and even access to gyms.

He also stressed that the health directive, which will be published in the next few hours, will serve to release stress but with “maximum care” to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“In a very orderly manner is the call we want to make to the population. It’s not that tomorrow everything will return to normal, no. Everything has to be done very carefully, with social distance from the case and within the framework of a new coexistence,” he warned.

Domestic Flights to Start in July

The Minister of Transport and Communications, Carlos Lozada, told RPP Noticias that regional flights will start operating in July. Due to the population’s need to be able to mobilize, the Executive is evaluating the actions that will be taken to meet the demand.

“The reactivation of regional flights will take place in the third part of the reactivation (which begins in July)”, he announced in the Air Rotation. “Since this is a large payment chain, we plan to give the air industry some oxygen, starting with the operators.”

This also applies to land transport, he said. “We are working from the Executive on a measure that will have a gradual and sustainable reactivation. (…) So that the level of contagion and quality is at a minimum risk,” he said.

He also said that although there is no clear date for the start of international flights. He estimates that it could be at the end of the third phase of economic recovery or the beginning of the fourth. “That also has to do with the reopening of other destinations. We are working with international protocols.”

[Note: This is the first time that a government official is using the word “will” instead “could”. Obviously things could change in the coming weeks, but this is very encouraging.]

Misc News Highlights

• The Ancash Regional Health Directorate will start the distribution of more than 21, 000 rapid COVID-19 tests that was acquired by the regional government for 210,000 soles.

COVID Reports from Across Peru

Most Regional Health Directorates post graphics each day on the current situation in their region each day. I’m going to try to keep up with these as best as I can for those regions that are particularly problematic so people can keep up with what is specifically happening in other parts of the country where there are particularly serious problems.

Most regions post daily reports late on the night before (but not all) so this is the latest information available. (Be sure to click on individual graphics to see a larger size.You might have to click on the top half of the graphic to click. Sorry, it’s a bug I haven’t been able to solve.)

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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 or get any commission from any place I recommend, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Peru Has Received over US$60 Million in Aid

Peru has received more than US$60 million in donations and technical assistance from friendly countries and international organizations to support the Government’s efforts to contain the pandemic caused by COVID-19, the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI) has reported.

Donations were also made by non-governmental organizations, foundations, and the foreign private sector, among others, and contribute to mitigating the socio-economic impact of the disease in the country.

“The work carried out within the framework of the Working Group responsible for managing and promoting aid from the International Technical Cooperation (CTI), which includes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Peruvian diplomatic missions abroad, led to more than US$60 million in donations and technical assistance from friendly countries,” APCI said.

“Serological and molecular tests, masks, ventilators, gloves, personal protective equipment, among others, were received during said period, as well as technical assistance via videoconference and, in person, as in the case of the People’s Republic of China and Germany, which sent temporary medical missions to our country,” it added.

Daily COVID Update from Minsa

The Ministry of Health announced that the number of COVID-19 cases has risen by 4,845 to a nationwide total of 174,884.

There are 8,930 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, of which 964 are in ICU with mechanical ventilation. So far 69,257 people have completed their period of home isolation or have been discharged from a health facility. The number of deaths rose by 133 to reach a total of 4,767.

Lima continues to be the region with the highest number of Covid-19 infections to date with 105,797 followed by the regions of Callao (12 911), Lambayeque (9138), Piura (8148), Loreto (5355), La Libertad (5114), Ancash (4668), Ucayali (4467), Arequipa (3727), Ica (3536), Junín (1951), San Martín (1433), Tumbes (1226), Cusco (1125), Huanuco (987), Cajamarca (830), Ayacucho (790), Amazonas (637), Madre de Dios (561), Moquegua (508), Pasco (476), Huancavelica (455), Tacna (447), Puno (399) and Apurimac (198).

Piura Releases Results of Extensive Testing in Markets

The region of Piura released the complete results of a massive testing program from May 9-27 which showed that 45% of all market vendors tested positive.

DHL Stops Imports

I received this email (translated) from DHL today and think it might be important to a lot of people here in Peru:

Dear customer,

As a result of the global outbreak of COVID-19 and the State of Emergency decreed in Peru, high volumes of shipments have been arriving in the country. In this regard, and in order to regularize our operation, as of June 1, 2020, the package and document import service is temporarily out of service.

By virtue of the above, we are taking all necessary measures to maintain the security of our employees and all our customers. As a company that operates worldwide, locally we are following all our global standards to continue offering the best service for our customers in more than 220 countries and territories.

Below we inform you how our service will be operating:

IMPORTS: They are temporarily out of service.

NATIONALIZATION: If your shipment requires more documentation or requires special formalities, it is possible that they will present a longer time of nationalization affecting the total transit time.

DELIVERIES: For all those shipments that are already in the country and have been nationalized, deliveries will be made in an estimated time of 7 working days.

ATTENTION BROKERS: If you nationalize a shipment through your customs agent, remember that the coordination is done virtually through email: counter.bocanegra@dhl.com with an estimated response time of 1 to 2 days for the issuance of your departure permit. Once the permit is received, your agent must come to the assigned shift to pick up your shipment. They will only enter DHL if they have the exit permit.

Please note that in order to perform the physical examination process, you must send your request to: operaciones.usuales.pe@dhl.com to receive your appointment. We will only wait for you in the assigned shifts. Additionally, guides arriving on the 28th, 29th and 30th may have an additional delay in assigning their shift to the requested process.

The store’s opening hours have been extended from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 16:00 and Saturdays from 8:30 to 13:00.

We reiterate that our export service is available and operating on a regular basis.

We regret any inconvenience this may cause you and will be informing you in the next few days, once our service is regularized.

Misc News Highlights

• The dean of the Peruvian Medical Association, Miguel Palacios Celi, told RPP Noticias that so far 45 doctors have died in Peru as a result of COVID-19, after becoming infected while carrying out their duties. He said the main problem is lack of protective equipment. Palacios also warned that Lima is starting to face a shortage of oxygen — a problem that should be addressed as respiratory infections were already the leading cause of death in Peru.
  
  
• The regional government of Arequipa is organizing itinerant markets in the district of  Sachaca, Tiabaya, C. Colorado, Mollebaya and Quequeña called “Del productor al consumidor” (“from producer to consumer”).
  
  
• Yesterday the Regional Governor of Arequipa, Arq. Elmer Cáceres Llica, delivered 50 thousand fabric masks to the vulnerable people of 19 districts.
  
  
• Cusco regional officials say health control checkpoint will be intensified at interregional borders such as Condoroma, La Raya, Cunyac, Ocongate through the National Police of Peru and the Health Directorate after an increase in private vehicles entering the region and bringing in more COVID cases.
  
  
• The region of Huancavelica reports 80 children currently diagnosed with COVID and under home care in the provinces of Acobamba (33), Huancavelica (18), Angaraes (8), Castrovirreyna (8), Tayacaja (6) and Churcampa (6). Of these, 45 % are between 6 and 11 years old, 43 % between 1 and 5 years, and 13 % are infants less than 1 year old. Of the total infected, 38 are girls and 42 are boys.
  
  
• Fifteen new modular bridges will be constructed in the region on Ancash in the provinces of Bolognesi, Carhuaz, Carlos Fermín Fitzcarrald, Corongo, Huaraz, Huari, Pallasca, Pomabamba and Sihuas.
  
  
• The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) trained more than 30 regional and provincial authorities on protocols of river cargo and freight services to prevent the spread of Covid-19. [If you have ever been in Iquitos, you know that this is the primary method of moving goods and people through a huge portion of Peru.]
  
  
• After four days of testing 2022 truck drivers at the port of Callao last month, 16.7% tested positive for COVID-19. On a normal day, 3800 trucks pass in and out of the port.
  
  
• South Korea has donated another 50,000 rapid COVID tests which arrived yesterday.
  
  
• Arequipa’s judicial branch fined the governor, Elmer Cáceres Llica, 6,450 soles for failing to comply with the National Plan for the Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Persons Affected by the New Coronavirus.
  
  
• Twenty-five health professionals, including doctors, nurses, obstetricians and biologists, left this morning from Lima for Piura.

COVID Reports from Across Peru

Most Regional Health Directorates post graphics each day on the current situation in their region each day. I’m going to try to keep up with these as best as I can for those regions that are particularly problematic so people can keep up with what is specifically happening in other parts of the country where there are particularly serious problems.

Most regions post daily reports late on the night before (but not all) so this is the latest information available. (Be sure to click on individual graphics to see a larger size.You might have to click on the top half of the graphic to click. Sorry, it’s a bug I haven’t been able to solve.)

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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 or get any commission from any place I recommend, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Monday, June 1, 2020

I think most people who read my blog each day probably have no idea that the original idea was to write about my travels and explorations in the region. There’s so much of interest here that is virtually unknown to most everyone — sometimes unknown even to the local people who live nearby.

It’s been 2½ months now since I was last able to explore, photograph, write, and share. I’ve spent a ton of time reading and planing for upcoming explorations, but no matter how much research I do, I’m still not able to actually get out into the field.

As a release, I decided to start writing about some of the places I really miss. Here’s the first of this series. I really think you’ll like it and I welcome any comments you’d like to share.

Places I Miss: Lago Sandoval

Minsa Issues Notice on Restrictions for Children

This morning the Ministry of Health (Minsa) published the list of districts in the country considered to be at high risk of Covid-19 transmission, specifying that, in these territories, children and adolescents under 14 years of age will not be able to go out for the daily walk ordered by the Government.

Minsa took this decision because in these districts, the departure of children can increase the risk of infection and transmission of the disease in their family environment including older adults and people with co-morbidity.

In districts not considered high risk, children under 14 years old will be allowed to take daily walks of 30 minutes, maximum 500 meters away from their home, under adult supervision and respecting the rules of social isolation.

Therefore, minors who go for walks must wear a mask from the age of three, wash their hands or use alcohol gel before leaving their home and when returning and maintain a distance of two metres from other people.

Under no circumstances are minors allowed to walk through markets, shopping malls or busy avenues. They must not carry toys nor may they play with other children. In those families with more than two children or adolescents under 14 years of age, the outing should only be done with up to two children at a time.

In Metropolitan Lima, the high-risk districts are Ate, Breña, Carabayllo, Comas, Chorrillos, El Agustino, Independencia, La Victoria, Lima Cercado, Los Olivos, Puente Piedra, Rímac, San Miguel, San Juan de Lurigancho, San Juan de Miraflores, San Martín de Porres, Santa Anita, Villa El Salvador and Villa María del Triunfo.

Also included were all the districts of the regions Arequipa, Callao, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Loreto, Piura, Tumbes and Ucayali. In the other regions, the following districts are considered high risk:

Amazon: Bagua Grande and Bagua.

Ancash: Casma, Huaraz, Independencia, Chimbote, Nuevo Chimbote, Coishco, Santa and Nepeña.

Ayacucho: Ayacucho, San Juan Bautista, Carmen Alto, Andrés Avelino Cáceres.

Cajamarca: Cajamarca, Santa Cruz, Jaen, Pomahuaca and Bambamarca.

Cusco: San Sebastian, Cusco, Wanchaq, Santiago and San Jeronimo

Huánuco: Amarilis, Huánuco, Llata, Pilcomarca and Leoncio Prado.

Lima Region: Chancay, Huaral, Barranca, Huacho, Paramonga, Santa Rosa de Quives, San Vicente de Cañete, Imperial, Nuevo Imperial and Mala

San Martín: Moyobamba, Tarapoto, La Banda de Shilcayo, San Hilarión, Tocache and Juanjuí.

Minsa Sends 28 Health Professional to Ucayali

A total of 28 professionals including doctors, nurses, biologists and midwives hired by the Ministry of Health (Minsa) left for Ucayali today. Health Minister Victor Zamora supervised the departure of this team that will reinforce the care of Covid-19 patients in the region, which so far registers 4054 cases.

Ucayali is one the hardest hit regions in the country.

The head of the Minsa informed that this is the first group to leave for this region of the Peruvian jungle, who have received training in disaster risk management and organization for health response, red alert in the context of Covid-19 that was in charge of the General Directorate of Disaster Risk Management and National Defense in Health of the Minsa.

For her part, the Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations, Gloria Montenegro, coordinator of the Ucayali region, explained that these professionals will be incorporated not only into the hospitals of Pucallpa, but also into primary health care for the timely delivery of medicines.

“We are also bringing in specialized personnel because the goal is for all the ventilators in the Ucayali region to remain functional and have what is necessary to attend to the population,” she said.

She also announced that a field hospital will be installed with a capacity of 90 hospital beds and 10 in the Intensive Care Unit.

During her stay, Montenegro indicated that he will coordinate with the Regional Government for the creation of two oxygen plants, which will be added to the two already existing ones that work in three shifts. In this way, it will seek to cover the deficit of this vital input in the region.

“We have already made the distribution of community masks and we are bringing medicine and food to the indigenous communities. The leader of the Covid-19 Command in Ucayali, Ángel Gutiérrez, has been coordinating with all the mayors in the region and we hope to continue moving forward and generating a predisposition in the population to comply with health measures,” added Montenegro.

Daily COVID Update from Minsa

The Ministry of Health today announced that the total number of COVID-19 cases in Peru has risen to 170.039. This was an increase of 5,563 cases which was 31% of the reported tests — the highest percentage so far reported.

There are 8,868 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, of which 975 are in ICU with mechanical ventilation. So far 68,507 people have completed their period of home isolation or have been discharged from a health facility. The number of deaths rose to 4,634 — a increase of 128.

Lima continues to be the region with the highest number of Covid-19 infections to date with 103,020 followed by the regions of Callao (12 495), Lambayeque (8811), Piura (8143), Loreto (5133), La Libertad (4898), Ancash (4444), Ucayali (4268), Ica (3450), Arequipa (3633), Junín (1896), Tumbes (1352), San Martín (1335), Cusco (1103), Huanuco (979), Ayacucho (762), Cajamarca (786), Amazonas (608), Madre de Dios (519), Moquegua (509), Pasco (473), Huancavelica (449), Tacna (398), Puno (386) and Apurimac (189).

Interpreting COVID Data

RPP Noticias has a very interesting interview with former head of the National Health Institute, Luis Suarez, about how to understand the epidemic curve in Peru after 8,805 new cases of COVID-19 were reported yesterday — easily the highest one day total so far.

Suarez said that it is not advisable to add symptomatic cases with positive serological test results, as it may generate confusion, since the latter could have developed antibodies weeks or months ago.

“If we make samples today at a bus stop or in a market [that] does not mean that the positives that come out are new infections because they may have been exposed months ago and now have positive antibodies,” he explained in Encendidos.

Suarez explained that the epidemic curve is constructed with symptomatic patients and is ordered according to the date of onset of the disease. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Peru’s curve is “decreasing”, but the specialist issued a warning:

“All the curves are in a downward phase, there are still important cases, but they are in a downward phase, but now there are a couple of aspects to take into account. One of them is the delay in entering information into the system. That could explain that the descent is not so fast, but there is no doubt that there is a descent,” he said.

“The other thing is that epidemics have a mountain-like form, that has been described in the 19th century, and what happens when we intervene is that it is not a mountain that rises and falls quickly, but rather that the transmission is slowed down and it becomes a less sharp hill. When we talk about a plateau, we are in the middle of that hill and it has just begun to descend and 50% of the epidemic is missing. The warning is that we have that epidemic curve with these circumstances with quarantine of people in their homes. If we increase the number of susceptible people on the street and if transmission has not yet decreased enough, that could increase,” he warned.

Suarez indicated that seroprevalence studies are not yet being carried out in Peru. These studies take a representative sample from all over the country and applying the rapid test to find out how many people have already been infected. Suárez said that the samples taken at transport stops or markets only give “an idea” of where the virus is moving.

“We have the sampling that has been done at bus stops or markets that are intentional samples or convenience samples that are not representative of the population, but they give an idea. They tell us that 40% of the population that uses Metropolitano [is positive], that data can reflect what is happening in the population where they come from. Likewise, with the markets: more than thinking that the market is the one that has that prevalence, it is the origin of that population,” he explained.

Interprovincial Travel Could Restart Next Month

Carlos Lozada, Minister of Transport and Communications (MTC), said that air and land transport at the interprovincial level could be reactivated between July and August.

These services are currently suspended. Lozada said that the level of development of contagion, health indicators and lethality of COVID-19 is being analyzed in order to implement the reactivation plan.

“We are currently seeing the level of development of the contagion, the health indicators and the lethality of the virus, so that in phase 3 we will probably gradually and partially activate the local air transport service between regions,” he said in an interview for the program 90 Matinal.

“In a month and a half or two months, we think that in July or August, we should be reactivating the entire interprovincial transport system, both by air and by land,” he added.

New Survey from CPI

A new survey conducted by the Compañía Peruana de Investigación de Mercados (CPI) revealed that 40% of Peruvians have increased the time they listen to the radio during the quarantine.

CPI founding partner, Manuel Saavedra Castro, said that the three media that stand out are television, internet and radio, with the latter being the one that extends most across social classes, with an emphasis on sectors C and D. 75% of respondents from these sectors said they had increased their radio consumption during the quarantine.

“With regard to radio, it is interesting to see how a significant percentage of the population, over 40%, mentions that radio consumption has been higher at this stage of the quarantine than before,” he said.

Saavedra also explained that radio has served as a medium to “dissipate” the VIDOC-19 crisis “at a personal and family level.”

“There is a very strong importance of the media in times of crisis, when households need information and a means of distraction. The radio, in both aspects, has taken on an extremely important role: as a means of information and as a means of distraction. More than 40%, almost 42% ,mention that during this stage of the quarantine they have consumed more radio than they used to before the quarantine,” he said.

Misc News Highlights

• A new oxygen plant will be delivered in Yurimaguas (in the region of Loreto) and set up at the Santa Gema Hospital today.
  
  
• Heli Ocaña, dean-elect of the Peruvian Teachers’ Association, said in RPP Noticias that the Ministry of Education must increase the number of teachers in public schools to attend to the more than 110,000 schoolchildren who have been transferred from private schools.
  
  
• Neighbors of La Esperanza Park, in the district of San Juan de Lurigancho in Lima, complain that a group of people play football every day in the sports hall.
  
  
• RPP Noticias is reporting that relatives of the President of Congress contracted with the State for more than 200,000 soles. The brothers and the mother of the incumbent of the Legislative, Manuel Merino de Lama, made contracts with the State, even when he was in public office. Lama has denied any interference in the contracts made by his relatives with the State.
  
  
• RPP Noticias is also reporting that Cuarto Poder has done an investigation in which they have found that interprovincial transportation is being carried out by taxi drivers who pass freely through police checkpoints, often using bribes to obtain permission.
  
  
• La Hermelinda market, the largest in La Libertad, may not open today or may only operate at 70% of its capacity, due to the fact that some traders have not adapted to sanitary measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
  
  
• SUNAT arranged to postpone the due dates of the Annual Income Tax Return 2019, as well as the monthly returns from February to August 2020, for almost 99 % of the individuals and companies.
  
  
• A contingent of doctors, nurses and clinical technologists from EsSalud traveled to the original peoples of Caballococha, Santa Rosa del Yavarí, Requena and Nauta (all in the Loreto region) in order to strengthen the first level of care before the COVID-19.
  
  
• The Vice-Minister of Public Health, Nancy Zerpa, stated in RPP Noticias that brigades from the Ministry of Health, in coordination with DIRESA Loreto, will go today to the native community of Pucapuro affected by COVID-19 after first being tested for COVID. Pucapuro is an indigenous community where there is a feared outbreak.
  
  
• Defense Minister Walter Martos said there has been an increase in cases of new coronavirus because more tests are being conducted in areas of higher infection.
  
  
• Healthcare workers at the Regional Hospital of Lambayeque held a protest in front of the hospital in solidarity with more than 100 colleagues infected with COVID-19 and requested the delivery of medicines and protective materials.

COVID Reports from Across Peru

Most Regional Health Directorates post graphics each day on the current situation in their region each day. I’m going to try to keep up with these as best as I can for those regions that are particularly problematic so people can keep up with what is specifically happening in other parts of the country where there are particularly serious problems.

Most regions post daily reports late on the night before (but not all) so this is the latest information available. (Be sure to click on individual graphics to see a larger size.You might have to click on the top half of the graphic to click. Sorry, it’s a bug I haven’t been able to solve.)

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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 or get any commission from any place I recommend, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Today marks the end of 11 weeks in the national State of Emergency which has meant a stay-at-home quarantine and curfew for everyone here in Peru. It has become one of the longest quarantines in the world. Most of the country has accepted it and is dealing with it despite the obvious challenges.

While the number of cases remain relatively high, much of that is because Peru has undertaken one of the world’s most active testing programs. Here, we have a far better idea of how many cases are at play. Even more important, Peru has been able to get a handle on where those cases are concentrated so they can focus their efforts more efficiently.

While there have been places where the lack of available health facilities has been a problem, the country as a whole has managed to stay just ahead of it thanks to very aggressive programs to expand available facilities. (It’s hard to provide everything for cities where huge portions of the population ignored social distancing and social isolation laws and went about daily lives causing massive spread of the virus.)

Peru is doing more testing than just all the other South American country combined resulting in high numbers of cases. While the number of cases is high, the lethality rate is relatively low. The US, for example, has a population about 10 times as large as Peru, yet has almost 23 times as many COVID deaths.

What would the situation be like if Peru had not taken the actions that they did beginning on March 16? I imagine the situation across the country would be far dire and the death toll would be even more devastating — as it is in the US.

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I’m going to start doing something different on my blog. Actually it’ll be a return to what I was doing originally and I’m sure everyone will enjoy reading the new posts and seeing the photos. If you subscribe, you won’t miss any of the new posts!

Economy Showing Signs of Recovery

The Minister of Economy and Finance, María Antonieta Alva, said that the Peruvian economy registered some economic recovery in the last week of May.

“We have started phase 1 of the reactivation about four weeks ago and the last week of May already shows some recovery of economic activity, which will benefit (business) expectations,” she said from the Government Palace.

She specified that in the last few days more than 38 mining units have been approved and in the construction activity they are also making approvals. In the next few days a supreme decree that initiates phase 2 of the reactivation will be published.

“In this phase we are asking for a lot of responsibility from the companies in order to comply with the protocols defined by the Health Ministry and specific ministries, and we are also asking for a lot of responsibility from the workers,” she said.

Minsa Activates Mobile Hospitals

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) strengthened seventeen regions of the country with the installation of mobile hospitals, intensive care modules and tents in order to redouble triage care, rule out suspicious cases, manage confirmed cases and critical patients in areas of expansion.

To date, three mobile hospitals have been deployed to health facilities in Lima including Cayetano Heredia, Sergio Bernales and Villa El Salvador Emergency Center, as well as another five hospitals in the regions of Piura, La Libertad, Cusco, Arequipa and Junín.

Similarly, mobile facilities (fully equipped tents) have been implemented in fourteen regions (Cajamarca, Piura, Lima Provinces, Callao, Cusco, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Ica, San Martín, Áncash, Huánuco, Pasco, Madre de Dios and Tacna), which are used for triage and sampling. Lima has also seen mobile facilities in the hospitals of Dos de Mayo, Arzobispo Loayza, María Auxiliadora, Hipólito Unanue and Santa Rosa, for triage, sample taking and observation services.

Daily COVID Update from Minsa

The Ministry of Health announced that the total number of COVID-19 cases in Peru is now 164,476 — an increase of nearly 9,000 cases in one day.

There are 8,882 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, of which 988 are in ICU with mechanical ventilation. So far 67,208 people have completed their period of home isolation or have been discharged from a health facility. The number of deaths has risen by 135 to 4506.

Lima continues to be the region with the highest number of Covid-19 infections to date with 100,526 followed by the regions of Callao (12167), Lambayeque (8484), Piura (7504), Loreto (4715), La Libertad (4660), Ancash (4220), Ucayali (4054), Ica (3334), Arequipa (3332), Junín (1848), Tumbes (1348), San Martín (1296), Cusco (1062), Huanuco (885), Ayacucho (748), Cajamarca (747), Amazonas (605), Moquegua (515), Madre de Dios (493), Pasco (463), Tacna (448), Huancavelica (436), Puno (392) and Apurimac (194).

Construction of Cusco’s Temporary Hospital

Construction continues on the new temporary hospital being built on the grounds of the Regional Hospital. The new facility will be completed in a week and will house 100 beds for COVID-19 patients.

Misc News Highlights

• Larry Lynch, 64-year-old firefighter Comandante General in Amazonas, was released from the hospital yesterday after winning a 10-day fight against the coronavirus. Lynch was wheeled out in a wheelchair as is custom for released patients, but instead of a hospital gown he wore his firefighter gear.
  
  
• An additional 40 oxygen bottles have been distributed around Trujillo.
  
  
• The Governor of Arequipa, Arq. Elmerr Cáceres Llica, delivered more than 6 thousand EPP’s and quick tests yesterday to the medical staff at the Central Hospital of Majes.
  
  
• The Regional Teacher Hospital (HRDC) of the Regional Government of Cajamarca (GRC) implemented the Intensive Care Unit for coronavirus patients (ICU / COVID-19) that has 4 adult / pediatric mechanical fans, 1 electrocardiograph , 1 defibrillator, portable X-ray equipment for the area, 2 antibacterial filters to reduce staff risk, 4 multiparameter monitors, and a patient monitoring center. The city of Cajamarca now has two specialized units for the care of COVID-19 patients with a serious clinical painting.
  
  
• A new temporary care center with 100 beds is being built at the Ramón Castile Military School in Truillo which will have independent access and be away from the city.
  
  
• A major 5.8 earthquake occurred just after midnight last night in the west of Juliaca (Puno region) in the south. It was strong enough that I could feel it in Cusco 320 km away and there was considerable noise from shaking buildings around me.
  
  
• The Cusco Regional government will oversee the restart of 151 major construction projects in June including the Chinchero International Airport, Antonio Lorena Hospital, Via Expresa, gas pipeline to Cusco, Kepashiato Gas Fractionation Plant, etc.
  
  
• During surprise testing on Cuso buses 5 drivers and 3 money collectors were found to be infected with COVID-19.
  
  
• President Martin Vizcarra announced that 125 beds will be installed in the Rosaspampa field hospital in Huaraz. He also said that the city needs a new hospital and that the government has committed funding for its construction. Provisions are also being made to have a better supply of oxygen in the region in case it faces a supply problem.

COVID Reports from Across Peru

Most Regional Health Directorates post graphics each day on the current situation in their region each day. I’m going to try to keep up with these as best as I can for those regions that are particularly problematic so people can keep up with what is specifically happening in other parts of the country where there are particularly serious problems.

Most regions post daily reports late on the night before (but not all) so this is the latest information available. (Be sure to click on individual graphics to see a larger size.You might have to click on the top half of the graphic to click. Sorry, it’s a bug I haven’t been able to solve.)

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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 or get any commission from any place I recommend, so you don’t have to worry about that.)

Saturday, May 30, 2020

It’s the beautiful time of the year in Cusco. The skies are generally as beautiful as you could expect with a deep blue hue that has to be seen to be understood. Believe it or not, while the weather is good, this is not my favorite time of year because it’s dry and things turn brown.

90% of our tourists come during the dry season and have no idea just how green much of the region is during the “rainy” season. While the mountains highlands at 14,000′ are generally bare and brown all the time, the valleys below turn so lush you might think you are close to the rainforest — which you are!

I’m not complaining because I have it so much better than most Peruvians, but I still would love to get out more. Today I decided to take the “long” way to the supermarket and walked up into the upper neighborhoods on the north side of the valley. As always, people are incredibly friendly even to foreigners who rarely visit their barrios.

The police today were almost non-existent and not a soldier was in sight, but in Cusco most people are doing a really good job of keeping their distance, wearing a mask, and acting like responsible human beings (unlike so many in other countries).

Walking through the city — even a relatively tiny bit of it — helps me reconnect with the people. It’s a little harder to stop and talk when we’re all wearing masks and keeping separated from each other, but people still like to talk and they quickly warm up with a gringo who wants to talk to them.

I don’t carry my good cameras out during the quarantine, but I do have a little one that is okay. (Please don’t be too critical of the poor quality. I know my friend, Diego, is not impressed!) Click on each to see a larger version.

While today’s COVID numbers reported below are the highest ever reported in a single day for the second day in a row, the number of tests reported was a huge jump above any previous day. Despite the high number of cases, the actual % of positive cases reported made a very big drop today — the lowest in a week — which is a good sign after two days of high percentages. (Thanks to Minsa for posting today’s numbers earlier than the past few days.)

Presidential Press Conference

President Vizcarra spoke to the nation this afternoon and noted that more than 1 million Peruvians have been tested for the coronavirus — more than double any other country in Latin America.

Major improvements have been made in the markets. “”We started with the markets and saw that the average (of infections) is between 50 and 70%,” he said. “Now, we are following the markets and we saw that the percentage is between 15 and 30%.”

In addition, 42% of those infected with COVID-19 have already recovered.

Vizcarra thanked Congress for the vote of confidence that passed easily in the early morning hours yesterday.

“Sense and willingness to work for Peru have prevailed”, he said. “As a Government we ratify the will and an exercise of permanent improvement. The Executive is not exempt from mistakes, but we have self-criticism to correct it”.

The President also commented on the need to continue reforms as part of the process of combating the virus: “”We cannot leave reforms aside. We cannot, on the pretext that we are facing this disease, leave the reforms aside. The COVID-19 must be combated, but at the same time we must continue working on reforms to strengthen our democracy”.

Daily COVID Update from Minsa

The Ministry of Health (Minsa) announced today that the total number of COVID-19 cases has risen to 155,671 while the total number of tests given went above one million for the first time with over 49,000 new test results reported.

There are currently 8,465 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, of which 940 are in ICU with mechanical ventilation. So far 66,447 people have completed their period of home isolation or have been discharged from a health facility. The number of deaths has risen to 4,371.

Lima continues to be the region with the highest number of Covid-19 infections to date with 96,583 followed by the regions of Callao (12105), Piura (7180), Lambayeque (7020), Loreto (4635), La Libertad (3998), Ucayali (3645), Ancash (3515), Arequipa (3335), Ica (2789), Junín (1816), San Martín (1225), Tumbes (1219), Cusco (1015), Huanuco (848), Cajamarca (720), Ayacucho (712), Amazonas (582), Madre de Dios (485), Moquegua (477), Pasco (458), Huancavelica (430), Tacna (375), Puno (333) and Apurimac (171).

Helping Hungry Families in Cusco

Cusco resident Amy Crawford has organized a Herculean effort to help feed hungry families in Cusco. Many expats and Peruvians have helped and you can support her effort here: Food for Cusco

Misc News Highlights

• Minister of Culture Sonia Guillén has resigned over a scandal involving the hiring of a singer known in Peru as Richard Swing to do motivational work for 175,000 soles. President Vizcarra swore in Alejandro Neyra as her replacement. Neyra served in the same position during the previous administration.
  
  
• The Ministry of Health delivered 5,000 COVID tests, medicine, and medical supplies to 40 indigenous communities in the Corrientes Basin in the Trompeteros district of Loreto.
  
  
• All 118 workers at the Cusco Regional Hospital who infected with COVID-19 two weeks are now well and have returned to work. One health worker even gave birth during this period with mother and baby both now infection free.
  
  
• The first 817 of a planned 2,000 truck drivers in Callao were tested yesterday and 149 tested positive for COVID-19.

COVID Reports from Across Peru

Most Regional Health Directorates post graphics each day on the current situation in their region each day. I’m going to try to keep up with these as best as I can for those regions that are particularly problematic so people can keep up with what is specifically happening in other parts of the country where there are particularly serious problems.

Most regions post daily reports late on the night before (but not all) so this is the latest information available. (Be sure to click on individual graphics to see a larger size.You might have to click on the top half of the graphic to click. Sorry, it’s a bug I haven’t been able to solve.)

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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.)

Friday, May 29, 2020

It appears that the Ministry of Health is going to start publishing the daily COVID-19 statistics later now. Today is the fourth day in a row that it’s come out 2-3 hours later than they’ve been publishing them for many weeks. I’m not sure what is the reason, but, since this is important daily information, I’m going to hold off each day until this information comes out.

Congress Gives Administration Vote of Confidence

After a marathon session lasting until 3 am this morning, Congress gave the administration of President Martin Vizcarra and Prime Minister Vicente Zeballos a vote of confidence by a vote of 89-35 with 4 abstentions.

Zeballos later posted on his Twitter account, “We humbly receive the trust granted by the Congress and, therefore, we renew our commitment with the firm will to overcome the adversities and improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable sectors. Working for the country is the commitment that prevails today.”

Utility Services May Be Cut Off After June 3

The Supervisory Body for Private Investment in Telecommunications (Osiptel) will allow operators to suspend services for non-payment. This suspension will begin gradually from June 3 and will apply to those customers who have not paid in installments.

The ban on cutting off services was announced in Resolution 035-2020-PD/OSIPTEL, but due to high levels of late payments this decision has been taken to ensure the sustainability of services. According to the new Resolution N° 043-2020-PD/OSIPTEL, it is specified that the cut of services will be made from June 3rd in homes that have 3 or more pending receipts.

As of June 12, service will be temporarily cut off for customers with two or more unpaid bills. The measure is valid until the end of June, so from July 1st the Conditions of Use of Telecommunications services will be in effect.

However, this measure will not affect those who have contracted the service during the state of emergency. Likewise, the company must inform the user of the cut at least two days in advance and indicate the amount pending and the deadline for cancellation.

In the case of telephone services, access to emergency and Civil Defense numbers must be maintained.

Daily COVID Updated from Minsa

The Ministry of Health announced today that the total number of COVID-19 cases in Peru has risen to 148,285. This was the biggest one day rise so far with 6,486 new cases reported.

There are 8,433 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, of which 940 are in ICU with mechanical ventilation. So far 62,791 people have completed their period of home isolation or have been discharged from a health facility. The number of deaths has risen to 4,230.

Lima continues to be the region with the highest number of Covid-19 infections to date with 92,057 followed by the regions of Callao (10781), Piura (7180), Lambayeque (7060), Loreto (4109), La Libertad (3816), Ucayali (3645), Ancash (3384), Arequipa (3146), Ica (2691), Junín (1755), Tumbes (1219), San Martín (1151), Cusco (916), Huanuco (811), Cajamarca (700), Ayacucho (679), Amazonas (563), Moquegua (462), Madre de Dios (450), Pasco (448), Huancavelica (407), Tacna (372), Puno (321) and Apurimac (162).

Gran Mercado Mayorista in Lima Reopens

Pavilions A and B of the Great Wholesale Market of Lima, located in Santa Anita, reopened today for public attention, after 9 days were closed after detecting that 132 merchants were positive to the rapid test of coronavirus (covid-19).

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Municipality of Lima and the Joint Command of the Armed Forces verified the completion of the cleaning, disinfection and reordering tasks in both pavilions.

The capacity of people in the pavilions will be limited, signs about maintaining social distance have been installed, and the disinfection points at the entrance are operational.

Misc News Highlights

• Beginning June 1 and lasting through the month, markets in Chachapoyas will be open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 6 am until 1 pm. Commercial establishments are allowed to open from from 6 until 8 pm.
  
  
• In a major show of confidence for the Peruvian economy’s outlook the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved an $11 billion line of credit for Peru.
  
  
• While COVID-19 is taking the spotlight, pneumonia has killed more people (42) in the Cusco region than the coronavirus (8) so far this year. All cases have been among the elderly over 65 (38) and infants (4).
  
  
• The 5th Mountain Brigade Cusco Motorized Infantry Battalion No. 30 delivered basic necessities to 80 families in the town of Canchanura near Cusco, who are living difficult times in this quarantine.
  
  
• More 100 health workers at the Cusco Regional Hospital of the 118 who contracted COVID-19 are gradually returning to work after completing their quarantine and beating the coronavirus. All infected workers have been under home care and none were hospitalized.
  
  
• ProMart is now accepting online orders in Cusco. This morning I was able to place an order for a small space heater using a US credit card. The earliest available date for delivery was June 11 so I guess I’ll see what happens. It seemed to go though fine with an emailed receipt and a text message with the order number.
  
  Oeschle also says that they are opertaing in Cusco now, but I haven’t tried it yet.
  
  
• EsSalud’s Áncash Healthcare Network has begun to install a temporary rapid construction hospital in Chimbote (Áncash) with the capacity to admit and provide specialized treatment to 100 patients suspected or diagnosed with COVID-19.
  
  
• Indecopi registered around 1,027 complaints from consumers who made online purchases during the first 72 days of the state of emergency. The companies with the most complaints are Metro, Wong, Inkafarma, Plaza Vea, Tottus, Ripley, Oeschle, Tiendas EFE and La Curacao, pollería Rokys, Saga Falabella and Sodimac Peru. According to Wendy Ledesma, director of Indecopi’s National Consumer Protection Authority, the most frequent complaints are related to non-delivery of products and errors in product delivery.
  
  These actions are breaches of the Code of Consumer Protection and Defense, so if you have any claim you can call the number 224 7777 or use this “Reclama Virtual” link.

COVID Reports from Across Peru

Most Regional Health Directorates post graphics each day on the current situation in their region each day. I’m going to try to keep up with these as best as I can for those regions that are particularly problematic so people can keep up with what is specifically happening in other parts of the country where there are particularly serious problems.

Most regions post daily reports late on the night before (but not all) so this is the latest information available. (Be sure to click on individual graphics to see a larger size.You might have to click on the top half of the graphic to click. Sorry, it’s a bug I haven’t been able to solve.)

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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.)

Thursday, May 28, 2020

Prime Minister’s Address to Congress

Today was one of the most important events in Peruvian government as the current administration went before Congress and presented their policies and discussed action in asking Congress for a vote of support.

The Prime Minister, Vicente Zeballos, made the presentation today several months late as the Council of Ministers has essentially been making policy and law for the country during the current State of Emergency since March 16.

I won’t pretend to understand all the details of this day, but I’ve been reading dozens of articles both today and in previous days and the importance of the day can’t be overstated.

Zeballos spent about 2 1/2 hours talking to Congress. At the time of my posting in the early evening, members of Congress are giving speeches regarding the day’s proceedings and it appears to be a lot of political posturing presented from representatives of each of Peru’s political parties.

[If I understand correctly — and no promises on this — then at the conclusion the Prime Minister will ask for a vote of confidence from Congress.]

Zeballos opened by saying thanking all the front line workers including health professionals, soldiers, and police who have done the hardest work in the crisis.

He then talked about the challenge of modernizing the health care system including their initial challenge of providing “essential medicines at reasonably prices and guaranteed quality” which will include, in the coming days, making sure that pharmacies have a stock of generic drugs.

Zeballos emphasized the comprehensive program of health that the government has carried out along with the massive improvements in the health system’s capabilities.

He pointed out that there were only about 2000 beds for COVID patients and 100 ICU beds across the Country at the start of the crisis. Now there are nearly 11,000 hospital beds available along with 1,090 ICU beds.

“By the end of June,” he said, “hospital beds will total 20,000, while ICU beds will amount to 2,000.”

He assured Congress that without the quarantine and curfew, Peru would be approaching 83,000 deaths and “could even reach 400,000.”

Zeballos also noted that doctors and scientists at the National Institute of Health are developing a molecular COVID-19 test which will enable Peru to be independent of the global markets for the currently available tests.

He talked about the issues that come to light regarding the rainforest regions. “The pandemic has made more evident the neglect in which our Amazon has found itself,” said Zeballos. “These gaps will not be closed from year to the next. However, we have a firm commitment to work to begin paying a historic debt to the people and the communities of the lungs of our country and the world.”

Daily COVID Update from Minsa

The Ministry of Health announced today that the total number of cases of COVID-19 in Peru has risen to 141,799.

There are 8,395 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, of which 943 are in ICU with mechanical ventilation. So far 59,442 people have completed their period of home isolation or have been discharged from a health facility. The number of deaths has risen to 4,099.

Lima continues to be the region with the highest number of Covid-19 infections to date with 87,478 followed by the regions of Callao (9953), Lambayeque (7020), Piura (6942), Loreto (3959), La Libertad (3818), Ucayali (3530), Ancash (3455), Arequipa (2921), Ica (2662), Junín (1675), Tumbes (1219), San Martín (1093), Cusco (916), Huanuco (780), Cajamarca (669), Ayacucho (639), Amazonas (546), Moquegua (447), Pasco (426), Madre de Dios (402), Huancavelica (383), Tacna (372), Puno (322) and Apurimac (152).

Seven Cusco Pharmacies Closed for Illegal Drug Sales

The Multisectorial Technical Group of Prevention and Fight against Illegal Trade and Inspection of Pharmaceutical and Related Products (Contrafalme) intervened in 22 pharmacies in the districts of Cusco, Santiago, San Sebastian and Wanchaq.

According to Diario Correo seven drugstores were closed because they “did not comply with the rules on authorization, illegal sale of medicines, controlled medical devices, counterfeiting and because they did not have the corresponding technical management.”

The Counterfeit Health Directorate also seized a large number of products that are harmful to health of which 66% had no health registration and 24% were of unknown origin or had an expired date.

Chinchilla Rat Seen at Machu Picchu Again!

After being considering extinct for several years, a new remote camera has captured a photo of the chinchilla rat in the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary for the first time since 2009.

Deputy Minister Calls for End to Informal Economy

The Ministry of Production (Produce) will work on formalization strategies that will benefit emerging entrepreneurs who are currently marketing their production in different markets and traveling fairs in the country, said the Vice Minister of Mype and Industry, José Salardi.

“Informality in Peru has played a bad trick on us and it is time to eradicate it aggressively. In that line, the sector sees in emerging entrepreneurs a great potential to access all the benefits that the state can offer them if they set up their businesses legally”, he said.

He also said that the government has allocated resources to provide financing to the mypes (medium and small businesses), as well as permanent training to entrepreneurs to be able to sustain their businesses. However, he stressed that these supports are only available to formal businesses.

Applications for the “Turismo Emprende” Program

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) has extended until Friday, June 5, the deadline for applications to the “Turismo Emprende” Program – 2020 Edition. This initiative is scheduled to deliver S/ 2.8 million.

Those who win, in addition to using the money to finance and strengthen their tourism or craft businesses, may use the amount awarded to cover staff costs, services, among others. It is important to mention that the money awarded is non-refundable (non-returnable).

For more details, tourism entrepreneurs and artisans should visit www.turismoemprende.pe. There, they will find, in addition to detailed information and testimonials, the modalities of application and rules of the contest.

It is important to mention that in addition to the modification of the application date, the Mincetur has decided to authorize applicants to submit sworn statements of those requirements that require legalization by a notary or justice of the peace, or must request documents from SUNARP. These must be regularized within a maximum period of ten calendar days after the closing of applications.

HOW TO APPLY?

Those interested in applying only need to prepare a project and send the information requested in the bases. There are two ways to apply: one for Tourist Enterprises and the other for Artisan Enterprises.

Those interested can send their questions to the e-mail consulta@turismoemprende.pe.

MODALITIES OF APPLICATION

a) COMPETITION AIMED AT TOURIST ENTREPRENEURS: Entrepreneurs in the fields of accommodation, food and tourist operations can participate in two ways:

Modality I – Undertaking my tourism business: Promotes the creation and development of innovative tourism enterprises. Individuals or groups can apply for financing from S/ 30 thousand to S/ 60 thousand.

Modality II – Growing my tourism business: Promotes the consolidation of ongoing tourism enterprises. Individuals with a business and legal entities with two or more years of registration in the Sunat can apply. The financing granted is between S/ 60 thousand and S/ 150 thousand and the participant must contribute at least 20% of the total project.

b) COMPETITION DIRECTED TO CRAFTSMANS: Artisans from the following lines of crafts can participate: leather and skins, imagery, wood, vegetable fiber, carpets and rugs, textiles, hats and headdresses, carved stone, ceramics, glass, furniture, gourds, wax and paraffin, paintings, musical instruments and prints, dyes, precious and non-precious metals. There are two modalities:

Mode I – Undertaking my craft workshop: Promotes the development and formalization of new and/or innovative craft enterprises, or those in an early stage of growth. Individuals or groups can apply if they are registered in the National Register of Artisans (RNA) for at least one year. The participant may apply for funding from S/ 10 thousand to S/ 18 thousand and must contribute at least 10% of the total project.

Modality II – Growing my craft workshop: Promotes the improvement, expansion or consolidation of enterprises, businesses or units of the craft that require improvement, innovation, certification and / or improvement of commercial aspects. Natural persons with a business and legal entities, with two or more years in the Sunat, can apply and be registered in the RNA for at least two years. The participant may apply for financing from S/ 18 thousand to S/ 30 thousand and must contribute at least 20% of the total project, which may be valued from the tools that their workshop already has.

Misc News Highlights

• President Martín Vizcarra, the Ministers of State, and other high officials of the Executive will reduce their salaries 10-15% for the next three months, according to an Emergency Decree published this Thursday in the Legal Regulations of the newspaper El Peruano. The money will be used for financial assistance to the relatives of health personnel who died as a result of their activities in the containment of COVID-19 in the country.
  
  
• The president of the Board of Directors of the Urban Transport Authority (ATU), María Jara, announced that coronavirus testing of public transport drivers will begin this week or at the latest on Monday. “As of Friday or at the latest on Monday we are going to start testing public transportation drivers for coronavirus,” she said. “As many as possible, we hope; because we know that being inside the transport units they are somehow vulnerable to a possible infection with COVID-19.
  
• Fitch Ratings’ senior director for financial institutions in Latin America, Andrés Márquez, said that Peruvian banks presented a good level of capitalization and provisions to face the coronavirus pandemic.
  
  
• National Police and personnel from the Municipality of Lima this morning evicted a large number of street vendors who had taken over several blocks of Grau Avenue in the Cercado district of Lima. However RPP Noticias reported that the informal vendors moved to nearby streets.
  
  
• Reports out of the UK say that the English Premier League will resume play (without fans in the stadiums) on June 17.

COVID Reports from Across Peru

Most Regional Health Directorates post graphics each day on the current situation in their region each day. I’m going to try to keep up with these as best as I can for those regions that are particularly problematic so people can keep up with what is specifically happening in other parts of the country where there are particularly serious problems.

Most regions post daily reports late on the night before (but not all) so this is the latest information available. (Be sure to click on individual graphics to see a larger size.You might have to click on the top half of the graphic to click. Sorry, it’s a bug I haven’t been able to solve.)

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