Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra announced that the focused quarantine will be in effect only in the provinces of Abancay (Apurímac), Huamanga (Ayacucho) and Huánuco (Huánuco) beginning October 1.
He also announced that this measure will be completely lifted, also from October 1, in the regions of Cusco, Moquegua, Puno and Tacna. In those regions the mandatory social immobilization will be maintained on Sundays, as provided for in the Supreme Decree approved by the Executive and that will be published tomorrow in the official newspaper El Peruano.
In a press conference held at the Government Palace after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, the president recalled that of the 196 provinces that Peru has, the targeted quarantine began this month with 79 provinces, a figure that was progressively reduced as the incidence of infections, hospitalizations and deaths in the localities decreased.
“As we saw that the curve was descending and we saw that the level of contagion in various provinces decreased, we dropped to 58 provinces (with targeted quarantine),” he said.
After indicating that the impact of the pandemic is decreasing in the provinces of Abancay, Huamanga and Huánuco, where the focused quarantine will still be in force and it is expected that as the health report shows positive figures, the measure will surely also be lifted in those locations .
“In these three provinces the curfew begins at 8 at night, while in the rest of the country it is in effect from 11 at night. Likewise, in these three provinces the compulsory social immobilization will continue on Sundays all day, ”he explained.
The head of state also affirmed that this restriction also applies to the departments of Cusco, Moquegua, Puno and Tacna, where the targeted quarantine has been lifted. “The rest of the country can mobilize on Sundays, although the transit of private vehicles is prohibited, as well as social gatherings and family visits,” he emphasized.
RESUMPTION OF PHASE 4 ACTIVITIES
President Vizcarra also announced that phase 4 of the economic reactivation will begin, in part, on October 1.
“Phase 1 began in May, June and July followed, and now, as of October, we are already partially beginning phase 4,” he said.
“In these last activities (which will be resumed with phase 4) it is necessary to be quite careful to generate sources of work, from economic activities, but continuing with the results that we have been achieving in the reduction of infected, hospitalized and deceased people such as consequence of covid-19 ”, he added.
Vizcarra explained that the Council of Ministers approved the supreme decree that approves the start of phase 4 of the reactivation, but that it does not include all the activities that have yet to be resumed.
“We are responsible, there are some activities that were in phase 4 that we are not yet considering to start. Unfortunately, those (activities) that concentrate people and are high risk cannot be restarted (such as bars, discos and cinemas),” he said.
President Vizcarra indicated that there are other activities that can be carried out in phase 4, and there are even some that were already authorized, but that will function with greater capacity.
“For example, the stores had a maximum capacity of 50%, and since we see that the curve (of infections) is decreasing, we are increasing the capacity to 60%. Restaurants and related services had a maximum capacity of 40% and now we are increasing to 50% ”, he said.
“The transport of passengers by rail, maritime transport and passenger cabotage is being authorized. And something very important, we are authorizing the start of passenger transport, by air, on international flights as of October 5,” he added.
These flights will be to nearby countries in the region, with all the corresponding protocols — “safe destinations from the health point of view.”
The President explained that among the activities that will begin to be reactivated from October are travel agencies and tour operators in places where they are authorized.
“Art, entertainment and recreation services with health care, according to protocol, the capacity is increased to 60%. There it is included that activities are allowed in theme parks, such as the Parque de las Aguas in Lima, ”he said.
“Likewise, individual sports activities or in pairs, not collective, are being allowed with a maximum capacity of 50% in public and private facilities. But there cannot be an audience in the stands, that is still prohibited, because there cannot be crowds, “he added.
[Obviously, there will be a LOT more details to be released. I’ll be updated on the COVID update page as often as soon as I learn more.]
