RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Masks are back in Peru. On Monday, July 4, Peru reintroduced mask mandates due to the high level of contagions produced by what they call the covid-19 fourth wave, which has caused more than 20,000 new infections in the last week.
According to the Peruvian Minister of Health, Jorge Lopez, the mandatory use of masks applies regardless of the type of environment. “We are already in a fourth wave; (this is why we are reintroducing) the obligatory use of masks in any environment, whether closed or open,” said Lopez.
It reverses the measure introduced last May 1, when only 5,000 new infections were reported weekly, in contrast to the 20,600 infections reported in the last seven days.
(Watch the video of Israeli journalist Avi Barak to learn more about masks)
Despite the significant increase in the number of infections in recent days, this has not translated into an increase in hospitalizations or the need for critical beds.
“We are seeing that the presentation of this wave is somewhat unusual. We are not having a great need for the use of hospitalizations or ICU beds at a high level,” said the health authority.
There are currently 968 patients hospitalized for COVID-19, an increase of 244 patients compared to June 15.
With information from Red News
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