Peru faces “resurgence” of Covid-19 infections and deaths

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Peruvian government warned on Monday that the country is facing a “resurgence” of the covid-19 pandemic after the number of infections and deaths doubled in the last month.

“We have a resurgence of covid-19,” said Health Minister Hernando Cevallos.

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According to official balances, the daily number of infections rose to 1,565 in the last week on average, after having bordered 800 from September to the first week of November. Likewise, deaths rose to 56 a day on average, up from 28 a month ago.

Due to these increases, Peru began to demand Covid vaccination certificates from people entering stores, banks, public entities, and airports on Friday.

However, legislators from the ruling Peru Libre party (left) criticized the measure and presented a bill to eliminate the requirement, established by decree in mid-November.

“The congressmen who are pushing a bill against the presentation of the vaccination card for entry to enclosed spaces should know that this measure is backed by scientific evidence and the experience of other countries,” said Cevallos, quoted on the Ministry of Health’s Twitter account.

The minister also warned that an alleged certificate of “exemption” from the vaccine is “invalid”.

“We ratify any certificate of exemption for not being vaccinated that allows entry to closed premises is invalid. Only the vaccination card is valid,” said Cevallos.

The certificate is held by those who have received the two doses of the vaccine. So far, 20 million people have been vaccinated, 72% of the target population. The country uses Sinopharm and Pfizer vaccines.

Peru has accumulated more than two million cases and more than 201,000 deaths. The country of 33 million inhabitants has the highest mortality rate due to the pandemic in the world: 6,119.5 per million inhabitants, according to the AFP balance based on official figures.

As a result of the outbreak, the government banned family gatherings and parties on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The South American nation surpassed 100 deaths from covid-19 for the first time in four months on Friday, with 123 deaths.