Peru passes 13,000 virus deaths

July 20, 2020 | 09:37

(0) user say

Peru on Sunday passed 13,000 coronavirus deaths, the health ministry said, a day before the country is scheduled to reopen restaurants as part of easing lockdown measures.

In this file photo taken on May 21, 2020 Worker move a coffin with the body of a COVID-19 victim out of a refrigerated container before its cremation at the El Angel crematorium, in Lima. The new coronavirus pandemic has claimed more than 600,000 lives worldwide, an AFP tally showed July 18. A total of 600,523 deaths were recorded globally out of 14,233,355 cases, a count based on official data showed, including 205,065 deaths in Europe -- the worst-affected continent.(Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP)

An additional 189 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing the toll to 13,187, according to the ministry's daily report.

The report also showed 4,090 new infections had been recorded, bringing the total caseload to 353,590.

Peru, with 33 million inhabitants, has the second-highest number of cases in Latin America, after Brazil. It also has the third-highest death toll, after Brazil and Mexico.

The country's hospitals are close to collapse as the number of patients continues to climb. There is a shortage of medical equipment and other resources that has led to complaints by health workers.

Doctors and nurses protested their situation Sunday outside a hospital in the city of Arequipa, during a visit from President Martin Vizcarra.

"Vizcarra, enough with the deceit, the patients are dying," they shouted at the doors of the hospital as the president arrived.

Peru lifted on July 1 a mandatory quarantine placed on 25 regions including Lima where the government says the coronavirus is "descending", despite 70 percent of the country's cases being recorded in these areas.

From Monday, restaurants will open at 40 percent capacity as the government seeks to restore the plunging economy.

AFP

What the stars mean:

★ Poor ★ ★ Promising ★★★ Good ★★★★ Very good ★★★★★ Exceptional