Covid-19: Starting today, a shorter curfew is in effect in Peru

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Starting Monday, October 18, a curfew from 2 AM to 4 AM  is in effect nationwide as part of the measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic according to the decree published by the Executive Branch.

Supreme Decree 163-2021-PCM makes official the announcement that Health Secretary Hernando Cevallos made Wednesday, October 13, in a press conference following the usual Council of Ministers meeting.

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The head of the Minsa recalled that the curfew hours were shortened because the country’s provinces are now at moderate risk for Covid-19. He explained that the curfew is not wholly lifted because they want to avoid what happened in the past with Covid-19 parties, each of which lasted into the morning.

“We want to maintain a certain level of restriction and, of course, appeal to the social responsibility of young people,” he said, pointing out that the new schedule of social quiescence will be made official by a decree published today in the Bulletin of Legal Norms of the official newspaper El Peruano.

The relaxation of the curfew will allow many businesses, such as restaurants, to work later and send their employees home without problems.

VACCINATION OF HEALTH PERSONNEL

Supreme Decree 163-2021-PCM also establishes that from November 15, 2021, healthcare workers must be fully vaccinated to perform their work in person at their workplace due to the high risk of infection and spread of Covid-19 variants.

It should be recalled that until October 17, a moderate alert level for Covid-19 is in effect in all provinces of the country, according to Supreme Decree 159-2021-PCM issued in early October.

According to the moderate alert level, this is the capacity for allowable activities during a health emergency.

Indoor activities:

– Shopping malls, arcades, department stores, general stores, and mixed-use groups: 50%.

– Basic needs stores, supermarkets, markets, warehouses, and pharmacies: 60%.

– Restaurants and related establishments whose customer area (lounge, bar, and waiting room) totals less than 200 square feet of indoor space: 60%.

– Restaurants and related establishments whose customer area (lounge, bar, and waiting room) has an interior area of 200 square feet or more: 100%.

– Casinos and slot machines: 50%.

– Cinemas and performing arts: 50%.

– Banks and other financial institutions: 60%.

– Temples and places of worship: 50%.

– Libraries, museums, cultural centers, and art galleries: 60%.

– Activities of sports clubs and associations (contact sports) 60%.

– Activities of sports clubs and associations (non-contact sports): 60%.

– Business and professional events: 60%.

– Hairdressing and hairdressing services: 60%.

– Spa, Turkish bath, sauna, thermal bath: 60%.

– Colonies (vaccinated with 2 doses): 20%.

– Gymnasiums: 50%.

Open space activities (subject to capacity and protocols, subject to approval by local authorities within their jurisdictions):

– Performing Arts

– Cultural education

– Restaurants and similar outdoor activities

– Nature reserves, botanical gardens, archaeological monuments or areas, open-air museums, and zoos

– Outdoor thermal baths

– Outdoor activities of sports clubs and associations

– Outdoor business and professional events

– Traveling markets

– Sports stadiums (vaccinated with 2 doses): 20%.