The mandatory social isolation that ended this Sunday in Peru will be extended for 14 more days, until February 28, in the areas of the country classified as extreme risk, Violeta Bermúdez, president of the Council of Ministers, announced on Wednesday. Lima is considered among these areas that will remain in quarantine.
The authorities recognized that Peru is in a second wave of COVID-19 infections. The numbers of cases and deaths related to the coronavirus have been increasing, according to official figures from the Health Ministry.
On the other hand, the Minister of Health, Pilar Mazzetti, said that the country has an oxygen deficit of 110 tons a day. He added that Peru requires 510 tons of oxygen every day to treat those who are hospitalized, but only 400 tons are produced in 194 plants in the country. The official assured that solutions such as imports are implemented to curb the oxygen shortage. He also stated that new plants will come into operation.
Regarding the vaccine supply, Bermúdez said that a first batch of more than a million vaccines from the Pfizer laboratory will arrive between March and April. The country has a total of 20 million doses contracted with the laboratory. Peru began vaccinating its medical staff on Tuesday with a first batch of Sinopharm vaccines. The total contracted with the Chinese laboratory amounts to 38 million doses, according to President Francisco Sagasti.
Bermúdez added that foreign citizens who reside in the country and have their documentation in order may be vaccinated.