Peru closes casinos and slots again

At a press conference, the president of the Peruvian Council of Ministers, Violeta Bermúdez, accompanied by several holders of ministerial portfolios, announced that Lima and the neighboring province of Callao once again entered the level of extreme risk due to the increase in cases in recent weeks.

"The deaths hurt us all, we are monitoring the situation and, if it is the case, we will take other measures," said Bermúdez, commenting that deaths increased 43.9% in the previous week.

MORE THAN 300 DECAYS A DAY
In the last 24 hours, 323 deaths and 2,486 new cases have been reported, which brings the number of people affected by the pandemic to 55,812 deaths and 1,667,737 confirmed cases of contagion, according to the latest report from the Peruvian Ministry of Health.
In that sense, as of next Monday, April 19, the curfew will be in force between 9:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m. the following day from Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays there will be confinement throughout the day.
Markets and wineries (small businesses) will have a capacity of 40%, shopping centers 30%, restaurants 30%, and cultural centers and zoos 30%.

However, casinos and slot machines, gyms, cinemas and performing arts, churches of worship, sports clubs and beaches will not be allowed. Some of the provinces that return to the extreme alert level are Huaraz, Cusco, Ica, Huamanga, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Cañete, Piura and Puno.

MORE RESOURCES FOR THE REGIONS
The chief of the cabinet reported that a transfer of 326 million soles (89 million dollars) has been approved for the regional governments of Peru, as well as other complementary measures to face the pandemic.

"We have to continue taking care of ourselves, even the people who have received the two doses of the vaccine, because the vaccine protects us but we can get it," said Bermúdez, emphasizing measures to prevent the disease.

In addition to the provinces declared at extreme risk in the second wave of infections, the Minister of the Interior, José Elice, indicated that another 147 provinces are at a very high risk level, and eight are at a high level.

Bermúdez also announced that a working group with experts has been created to have "clear and transparent criteria" in the registry of those killed by the pandemic, given that there is currently a double count, that of the dead with a confirmed diagnosis and that of who die with alleged symptoms of covid-19.
In this regard, he added that by the end of May they will have the criteria to gather this information, which is very valuable for decision-making and to guide public policy.