Health Care

Coronavirus alert in Peru: 11 cases confirmed

Coronavirus alert in Peru: 11 cases confirmed
Coronavirus Covid-19, now named SARS-CoV-2. Source: Mayo Clinic.

The minister of Health, Elizabeth Hinostroza, confirmed Tuesday morning that 11 cases of the coronavirus  Covid-19, now known as SARS-CoV-2, have been confirmed — eight in Lima, one in Arequipa and two in Huanuco.

According to Hinostroza, 346 people have been tested so far for the virus.

The first patient, a young Latam Airlines pilot who returned from Europe, infected family members and friends, including two senior citizens and a 7-year-old boy. All are quarantined at home and the young boy’s school, Newton College, has suspended all classes for two weeks, the standard incubation period.

In the cases reported in Arequipa and Huanuco, the patients had also just returned from Europe.  The cases in Huanuco, brothers of 27 and 15 years old, were in Lima for six days before boarding a bus home to Huanuco.  The bus carried 50 other passengers, who are being contacted by health authorities.  The younger brother initially was hospitalized but both are now in quarantine at home and recovering quickly.

The coronaviruses cause respiratory illnesses, particularly in older people and adults with weaknesses such as diabetes or cancer. Acute cases, which only affect about 5% of those infected, can develop into pneumonia. According to the World Health Organisation, the mortality rate is expected to be between 2% and 3%.

In Italy, however, according to a Scientific American report, there have been 463 deaths reported out of 9,172 cases —5%— and this is being attributed to the age of the country’s population. Italy has the oldest population in Europe, with 23% above the age of 65.  In China, where the outbreak was first reported, the number of cases reported has been 80,778 with 3,158 deaths — the government was initially slow to react to the outbreak, which delayed preventive actions.

In Peru, Premier Vicente Zeballos assigned the 18 members of his cabinet to visit different regions of the country this week to provide information on prevention and mitigation measures to local and community authorities and to ensure health centers are properly equipped — Defense minister Walter Martos is in Cajamarca in the northern Andes while Susana Vilca, minister of Energy and Mines, is leading prevention meetings on the south coast in Moquegua and monitored conditions at the airport in Tacna.

The government has also published guidelines for employers, including the standard paid sick leave, and suggestions for agreements to facilitate in certain cases working from home if the employee shows symptoms of illness or has to care for a family member.

Social media reported a private clinic in Lima was charging over $300 for coronavirus tests, but the Health ministry has stated that although swabs may be taken at private and public health centers, the only authorized and complete analysis is available through the National Health Institute, INS, working with Health ministry hospitals.  Private clinics are working with the INS.

The cost of testing and treatment of Covid-19 for people who are uninsured is being covered by the national comprehensive health insurance, SIS. As of November 2019, the SIS automatically affiliates all citizens who have no private or state payroll health insurance (EsSalud).

2 Comments

  1. Yvette C Harris

    I have a cousin there on vacation with his girlfriend who is sick and have all symptoms of Coronavirus. She is a Korean female. We have tried the MOH who would a swear the phone and when they did, they could not speak English. They are walking around Cusco trying to find that 24hr clinic that may not be able to really help them. Give me contact info for help in Cusco

  2. Kogelheide

    You report that in Italy 463 deaths resulted from over 9 000 cases! I find this very disturbing because it is so untrue!!! Google it!!! I just did and it reports that 26,384 deaths to date with 195 000 cases!!!! Are readers aware that most of the countries around the world have been ‘locked down’???? I live in Canada and over 7.1 million people have recently lost their jobs because of this lock down! Well over 45 000 deaths have been reported just from New York state, in the US! They have built mass gravesites where 25-30 unclaimed bodies are buried each day!!! Here, in Ontario we are testing 16 000 a day!!!!! There are now close to 3 million cases worldwide! I feel that Peru will soon feel the effect if people don’t take this more seriously!!!

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