The Trend, Impacts, and Post-COVID19 Challenges:

Republic of Peru

Graduate School of Public Administration

Asia Regional Information Center, Asia Center

Seoul National University

Contributor:

Kilkon Ko (kilkon@gmail.com), Professor, GSPA, SNU

Richard Leon (richardleonvargas@gmail.com) Ministry of Health of Peru

This work is sponsored by the Asia Regional Information Center, SNU Asia Center

Table of Contents

Introduction        4

Trend of COVID -19        6

Controlling COVID-19 by Different Actors        21

1.0 Central Government        21

A.   Public Administration        21

B. Health        21

1. Sanitary strategies        23

2. Peru and other epidemics and non communicable diseases        24

3. Why are there so many COVID-19 cases in Peru?        26

C.  Economy        27

1.  Tax        27

2. Banking and Private Insurance        27

3. Labor        30

4. Production and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)        32

5. Social Assistance        33

D. Education        34

E. Transport        35

F. Communication        36

G. Justice        37

H. Foreign Affairs        40

I. International Cooperation        46

J. Tourism        48

K. Politics        48

L. Auditing and Control        49

M. Others        50

2.0 Urban Government        51

3.0 Academia        51

Impacts of COVID-19        52

1.0 Health        52

2.0 Economy        52

3.0 Tourism        53

4.0 Production        53

Challenges        57

1.0 Health        57

2.0 Economy        58

3.0 Education        58

4.0 Transparency        60

References        61

1.0 Health        61

2.0 Justice        62

3.0 Economy        63

4.0 Education        64

5.0 Foreign Affairs        65

6.0 Transport        67

7.0 Politics        68

8.0 International Organizations and Other Countries        69

9.0 Laws        70

Introduction 

For just over two months, Peru and the world have been facing an unprecedented global shock as a result of the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). The need to contain the growth of contagion has led governments, including Peruvian government, to implement social isolation measures that are hitting economic activity, financial systems and people's incomes.

When this crisis began to manifest itself, a comparison was sought with what happened in the years 2008-09, but at the time in Peru there were 9039 confirmed cases and 200 deaths due to influenza H1N1, so we are facing a completely different and unprecedented situation; and because of COVID-19, until September 20, 2020, Peru is the second country in South America, after Brazil, with 772 896 confirmed cases and 31 474 deaths (fatality rate of 4.08%).

At the time, it was a financial crisis that ultimately involved a comprehensive reform of the regulation and supervision of financial systems in the world. The economic impacts of COVID-19 on Peru and global society would be as huge as the Great Depression of 1930.

But it is the high degree of uncertainty that makes a big difference between COVID-19 and past crises. In any shock or extreme crisis, there is a high degree of uncertainty and decisions are always made with incomplete information. But in this case, there is a diversity of sources of uncertainty and they are also more difficult for economic policymakers and financial regulators to understand. The situation is evolving every day and industries, government authorities and financial regulators need to make timely decisions to address short-term challenges, without ever losing sight of our long-term goals.

It is also a situation that requires a high level of coordination between economic and financial authorities, including health sector authorities, key players in the resolution of this health crisis, with which interaction and communication in the past has been low.

Finally, the country is trying to balance taking care of the health´s population improving the health sector´s response and restarting in 4 phases the economical activities, even more with the World Bank's forecast of a contraction of 12% in peruvian GDP for 2020, but with courage and confidence to get the 7% in national GDP for 2021, according to World Bank´s  report Global Economic Prospect, emitted in June, 8, 2020.

Trend of COVID -19

The Timeline of the Spread of COVID-19 into South America:

On February 26, 2020,  Brazil confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in South America, someone who had returned from an affected area in Italy.

On February 29, 2020, Ecuador confirmed its first case of COVID-19.

On March 2, 2020, Chile confirmed its first case of COVID-19.

On March 3, 2020, Argentina confirmed its first case of COVID-19.

On March 4, 2020, French Guiana confirmed its first case of COVID-19.

On March 5, 2020, Peru confirmed its first case of COVID-19.

On March 6, 2020, Colombia confirmed its first case of COVID-19.

On March 7, 2020, Paraguay confirmed its first case of COVID-19.

On March 10, 2020, Bolivia confirmed its first 2 cases of COVID-19

On March 11, 2020, Guyana confirmed the first case of and death from COVID-19.

On March 13, 2020, Venezuela confirmed the first 2 cases of COVID-19.

On March 13, 2020,Suriname confirmed the first case of COVID-19.

On March 13, 2020, Uruguay confirmed the first 4 cases of COVID-19.

In Peru, on 05 March, 2020 a first case imported from COVID-19 was confirmed, in a peruvian citizen with a history of travel to Spain, France and the Czech Republic. Subsequent cases were confirmed between their contacts and until March 12, 2020, and to this date were confirmed 22 total cases, eleven were imported from Spain, France, Italy and the United States, ten correspond to cases between the contacts (person-to-person transmission) and a case without travel history, who participated in an event where people of different nationalities gathered in Lima. In its early stage, Peru was not certain whether COVID-19 would spread so quickly.

Figure The trend of confirmed cases

The Ministry of Health reported, on September 19, 2020, 3’ 693 813 247 tests have been made with a total of 768 895 confirmed cases. At this moment, there are 9156 hospitalized patients (1425 in intensive care units with a ventilator) and 31 369 deaths. Until today, 615 255 patients were discharged, and there are 1725 intensive care beds. As shown in Figure, Peru shows the rapid increase of new infection cases and will need more days to reach a turning point of decrease of new cases. Until September 19, 2020, the capital of Peru, Lima, is the city with more positive cases with a total of 326 493 (fatality rate of 3.90%), also, the national rate of deaths because of COVID-19 is 4.08%. One of the problems of the availability of intensive care beds is that they are not distributed proportionally around the regions in the country and most of the ventilators are not mobile, so can not be transferred to another city that needs them; plus the informal labor market, the overcrowded poor homes, and the reopening of the economy. Finally, on July 22, 2020 the government had recognized a under-registration of deaths until June, 2020, therefore they have included 3688 more deaths to the current register.

Figure Trend of new cases

Fatality rate of Peru (until September 18, 2020 is 4.08%) is serious considering that the announced fatality rate of WHO is around 3.4%. However, given the rapidly increasing patients and the stress of medical facilities, and the beginning of the third phase of the economical activities according to the 4 phases that started on May 25, 2020, it is has been started to increase the number of deaths since June, and the confirmed cases and the fatality rate are been increasing also in July, with the reopening of the economy, and regarding the cuestionable transparency at the registration of deaths. Due to the increased number of deaths, phase 4 have to be postponed.

The most serious concern to Peru at this moment is the shortage of medical service (ventilators, intensive care beds, medical oxygen and intensive care specialists and professionals). As shown in Figure, the number of active cases still increases rapidly. As there are a limited number of medical units to take care of patients, the risk of high fatality and community infections in a hospital is never low. Also, politically, the government has designated a third health minister since the pandemic started, regarding also the transparency of the registration of the deaths and the trust of the citizens on the government.

Figure The number of active cases

COVID-19 Situational Information Reported by Peru Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (Ministry of Health)

COVID-19 Situational Information Reported by Peru Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (Ministry of Health)

Source: Ministry of Health of Peru

* On July 22, 2020, the President of the Republic, Martin Vizcarra said that the update of the death figures occurs after detecting an under-registration of deaths, in a study carried out with the Pan American Health Organization. Also, the new nomed Minister of Health Pilar Mazzetti stated that the death toll will be adjusted, after having included 3688 more deaths to the current register.

** On August 14, 2020, the deputy Health Minister, Luis Suarez, updated the number of deaths and added 3658 cases to the official accounts, with which the country registered a total of 25 648 deaths. Also, at that time the official pointed out that the National Death Information System (SINADEF) registers 50 000 deaths with COVID-19, and it is still being revised.

 Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 and Deaths by Region in Peru

Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 and Deaths by Region in Peru

Source: Ministry of Health of Peru, on June 14, 2020.

Controlling COVID-19 by Different Actors

1.0 Central Government

A.   Public Administration

- The government required the public entities and enterprises to implement virtual service channels to the citizens.

- The government authorized the virtual reception desk in all the public entities, to receive all the documents, requests or procedures that the citizens want to present. As well, all the administrative deadlines in all the procedures were suspended while the National State of Emergency is in force.

   B. Health

- Through Supreme Decree N° 044-2020-PCM^[1] published on March, 15, 2020 and its legal amendments, the president of the Republic, Martin Vizcarra, declared the National State of Emergency for a period from March 16 until June 30, 2020. Initially set to March 30, then the state of emergency had been first extended to April 12, then thru April 26, followed by May 10, and May 24, and recently until June 30. It includes lockdown, close of the borders and compulsory social isolation, except for purchasing groceries or medicines in some hours a day in places near to your home. Also, no travel allowed to another city of the country. In the other hand, for 2 weeks in April was implemented that mondays, wednesdays and fridays is allowed to go out for purchasing for men and tuesdays, thursdays and saturdays for women; but, this measure was eliminated because for social behavior the most of the household´s purchases are made for women, so there were too much agglomeration on mondays, wednesdays and fridays.

On June 4, 2020, the government has extended the country's state of health emergency for 90 days, starting June 10 thru September 7, 2020, pursuant to Supreme Decree N° 008-2020-SA, to meet the need to continue implementing prevention and control measures in order to prevent the spread and contain the COVID-19 in Peru.

Respect to the beginning of the beginning of the activities, on May 23, 2020, the Supreme Decree N° 094-2020-PCM titled “Citizenship towards a new social coexistence” was published, which contains details of the extended mandatory social isolation and immobilization (curfew) until June 30. This law made a modification and flexibility in some activities of the services sector and others linked to the Health, Economy and Defense spheres. According to the supreme decree the mandatory social immobilization will run from 9:00 pm to 4:00 am in most regions starting on May 25. However, in 8 regions (from a total of 24, they are Tumbes, Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad, Loreto, Ucayali, Ica, and three provinces on the coast of Ancash: Santa, Casma and Huarmey) the mandatory social immobilization goes from 6:00 pm to 4:00 am, these jurisdictions have a different treatment due to the number of COVID-19 cases.

- The Ministry of Health has made 4,500 teleconsultations.

- The Ministry of Health declared a red alert in all the health centers in the country.

- The Ministry of Health has published a Decree that enables the health service exchange, so everybody, regardless of their insurance type, can go to any health service provider.

- The protocol for the protection and care of patients with COVID-19 for health personnel is approved (includes security measures in health care centers).

-  The Guide for the prevention of Coronavirus in the workplace is approved.

- On April 1st, 2020, the Government announced the creation of the COVID-19 Operations Command that will aim to lead the organization of all available resources required to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The President of the Republic, Martin Vizcarra, requested regional and local authorities, as well as citizens, to support this National Command, led by Dr. Pilar Mazzetti (former Minister of Health and Interior Ministries). Also, the COVID-19 Regional Commands are being set up in each region, the top official affirmed that the idea is not for regional governors to lead this working group, as one of them had claimed, nor himself, the Prime or Health Ministers, because it is about executing operations, and that is the job of Dr. Mazzetti.

-   On April 20, 2020, the Health Minister Victor Zamora announced the executive approval of a legislative decree that gives the Ministry of Health greater control in directing COVID-19 patients to both public and private hospitals.

- The government decided to implement the COVID-19 Care and Isolation Center based in the Lima Pan American Village, where the sportive competitors stayed during the XVIII Pan American Games, held in Lima the last year. This complex is currently occupied by COVID-19 patients who are treated there. To date a total of 1661 patients have been treated in this place. According to the COVID-19 Care and Isolation Center managers, the Pan American Village has 7 towers, with 20 floors each.

- On May 21, 2020, The Social Health Insurance System (EsSalud) has started the construction of fast-build hospitals in Lima, Loreto, Lambayeque and Piura regions, which are equipped with medical gear and hospital beds in order to treat patients with suspected or known COVID-19 infection. The announcement was made by Essalud Executive President Fiorella Molinelli, who disclosed that the Labor and Employment Promotion Ministry has approved a transfer of S/ 74 000 000 soles (US$ 21 500 000 approximately) to EsSalud for the implementation of care temporary isolation centers nationwide, aimed at COVID-19 patients.

- On May 21, 2020, under the Urgency Decree N° 059-2020, drugs, medical devices and biosafety equipment, used for the handling and treatment of COVID-19, have been classified as essential goods in order to guarantee the population´s access to these products at the drugstores, even in their generic presentations and avoid the higher prices when the drugstores just offered these with a laboratory brand.

1. Sanitary strategies

1. Massive testing and tracking

The Ministry of Health decided to test massively to know the confirmed cases and required them mandatory isolation and make the tracking with the people that have been in touch with them to prevent the continued spread of the virus.

According to Peru Compras^[2] (Central Public Purchasing), the Ministry of Health has bought 5´ 233 346 rapid tests and 185 063 molecular tests for a total of S/ 172´ 934 980 soles (US$ 52’ 404 539 dollars approximately).

In Peru until June 23, 2020, 2’ 158 770 discard tests have been made (198 817 molecular test and 1’ 197 788 rapid tests), with a total of 237 156 confirmed cases. A difference with Chile, for example, the Pinera´s administration made 799 776 tests until June 14, 2020, but all of them were molecular tests (Polymerase Chain Reaction -PCR)^[3].

2. Isolation

After the positive confirmed case of COVID-19, it is mandatory the self isolation for 14 days at your home or in the government facilities as the COVID-19 Care and Isolation Center based in the Lima Pan American Village. Also, in case of international arrival of peruvians that were in holiday abroad while the government decreed the National State of Emergency, and through the coordination of Ministry of Foreign Affairs were brought to the country, the government provide hotels to stay isolated for 14 days before going to their homes, as well in the case of citizens that were in the capital and have to go back to their hometowns, they regional government provide isolation places in hotels for 14 days in their cities before leaving to the hotels, to prevent the spread of COVID-19, even if they got tested.

3. Improving health response capacity

One of the important communication and transparency that the outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 in China, Korea, and other countries, as well of the role of the World Health Organization let to the south american governments some time to be prepared to face the pandemic. First of all, with the experiences and measures that the countries of this part of the world have been taken, but also we have to realized that past experiences as the MERS in 2015, let the asian countries be in better response position, besides other factors as innovation and strong economical positions.

In Peru, the Ministry of Health, without the experience to face the MERS in 2015, started to implement measures to improve the health response capacity, to face lack of health professionals and medical beds and intensive care units, ventilators, and nowadays medical oxygen. In that sense, the government hired temporary venezuelan and cuban medical doctors, increased to 1238 intensive medical care beds with mechanical ventilators.

4. Primary health care - TAYTA operation

There are more than 8 000 primary health centers in Peru, and since June 2020, the Ministry of Health started the Tayta operation. This strategy with rapid response teams from the primary health centers work start to work identifying positive cases of COVID-19, whose receive early treatment, and also monitor the evolution of the disease and the accomplish of the mandatory isolation in their homes or in the places that the government arranged for it, as well provide with food for 15 days. All this to have an early diagnosis of the disease and prevent worsening of the patient with the timely treatment, and finally to avoid that the patient have to be admitted to hospitals and to the limited intensive care units, in the worst case.

5. Focused quarantine  

2. Peru and other epidemics and non communicable diseases

1. Guillain-Barré syndrome

On June 8, 2019, the Ministry of Health declared the health emergency for 90 days due the unusual increase of atypical cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome^[4] through the Supreme Decree N° 013-2019-SA^[5]. In 2019, 1120 cases and 38 deaths were reported, and 34 mobile ventilators were purchased that allowed have a better health response capacity to face the current COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Dengue

In Peru, the Dengue^[6] occurred every year most in the coast north and in the rainforest in the country and mainly in the raining seasons, as there is not a vaccine to prevent and treat this illness, many times were declare health emergencies to strengthen the fumigation activities and implement the public laboratories in the provinces. As you can see, the fatality rate is low.

Number of Cases of Dengue in Peru since 2014- 2020*

Source: Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention of Peru (Ministry of Health)

* Until 22nd epidemiological week

** Increase of cases due to the phenomenon of El Niño

3. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), on June 5, 2015, emitted an Epidemiological Update about the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-Cov)^[7], informing that this syndrome affected for the first time detected in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and until that report 25 countries, including among others to Korea, China, Philippines, Germany, Malaysia, Turkey, France, Italy, Netherlands and United States of America, non have been reported cases in Peru.

Also, this epidemic was a strength for all these countries to face better prepared in health innovation and laboratories in comparison with countries as Peru, that was expecting the COVID-19 would not arrive to the country as the case of MERS-CoV.

4. H1N1 Influenza

In Peru, there were 9039 confirmed cases and 200 deaths due to influenza H1N1 until November 2009. To contain the spread of the H1N1, the government applied focused isolation and quarantine, close of the schools and universities, implementation of social distancing and the promotion of washing hand. Besides that, the early detection of suspicious cases from international flights from the United States and Mexico and international buses from Chile, and mental health support and activities. The medical treatment was with the antiviral Oseltamivir.

e. Cholera

According PAHO^[8], in 1991 Peru suffered more than 400 000 cases of Cholera and over 3100 deaths due mainly to the poor water quality.

f. Noncommunicable Diseases

PAHO reported that noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors are the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the Americas, and they represent both a public health challenge and a serious threat to economic and social development. According the PAHO, between the NCDs, we have cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, etc. In the Region of the Americas, NCDs cause 5 549 900 deaths per year, representing 80.7% of the total of 6 875 460 deaths in the region. Of the total deaths from NCDs, 38.9% are premature deaths occurring in people under 70 years of age. In Peru there were a total of 172 000 deaths, and a total of 119 400 deaths (69.2%) were by a noncommunicable disease. Besides that, the obesity rate in Peru and in the region up to 20% approximately, are risk factors that made worst the health evolution in the recover of the COVID-19.

3. Why are there so many COVID-19 cases in Peru?

1. Social and Cultural Customs
2. Outbreak Cluster at Food Markets
3. Labor Informality
4. Overcrowded Living Conditions
5. Venezuelan Migration

C.  Economy

1.  Tax

- The National Tax Administration Office extended the annual declaration and payment of tax obligations to natural persons corresponding to the 2019 tax year. Also, has postponed the monthly tax declaration corresponding from March 2020 to June 2020.

- More enterprises will be exempted for the previous payment to the National Tax Administration Office from the general sales tax now that they receive the payment for the consumers, giving them more cash liquidity.

- On April 16, 2020, through the Legislative Decree N° 1460^[9], the government made flexible the procedure for the acceptance of donations from abroad that enter to the country in the framework of non-reimbursable international cooperation, by entities and dependencies of the public sector, during the health emergency by COVID-19.

2. Banking and Private Insurance

- The Superintendence of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Fund Administrators (SBS) authorized the financial entities to modify the operation hours of their agencies, extending the limit of operations to be carried out through electronic money accounts. Also, is allowed weighting factors for consumer and mortgage loans are reduced and financial entities are empowered to use the additional effective equity accumulated by the business cycle component.

- The SBS requests the members of the general shareholders´ meeting of financial entities to capitalize or reinvest the full amount of the profits obtained in the 2019 financial year.

- It is allowed that the Private Insurance Companies provide an extension of the term of the insurance in the event of non-payments of insurance premiums, with the possibility to offset premiums pending payment by the contractor and insured against compensation due to the insured or beneficiary of the insurance. Also the insurance companies are empowered to modify the payment schedules originally agreed with the insurance contractors; and , in case of non-payment of premiums, the suspension of coverage does not proceed when a premium equal to or greater than the period of validity of the insurance has been paid proportionally.

- Other measures to deal with the emergency: The objectives are to preserve the stability of the financial system and to ensure the operational and business continuity of the entities under their supervision, among others. In the face of the health emergency in Peru, because of the expansion of COVID-19, the Government has been forced to take drastic measures that have been restricting the country's productive activity, which will cause economic losses and problems for financial system debtors to meet the payment of their obligations.

Against this stage, the SBS has been taking measures focused on the following fundamental objectives: to preserve the stability of the financial system, to ensure the operational and business continuity of the entities under its supervision, and to ensure the functioning of the market and the fulfillment of the functions of financial institutions. Preserving the stability of the financial system To this end, SBS issued multiple trades, empowering financial system entities to take emergency measures so that debtors (natural personals and enterprises), which are affected by the state of emergency, can meet the payment of the claims they hold in force. Such measures will be determined by each entity after assessing the level of impact on its debtor portfolio.

Accordingly, financial institutions may modify the contractual conditions of the various credit arrangements in general without the need to contact each client individually and without this modification constituting a refinancing (or deterioration in the credit rating of the debtors), to the extent that the total period of those credits does not extend for more than six months of the original period of the original period, and that debtors have not been arrears on their payments greater than 15 days at February 29, 2020.

In the case of natural debtors, the contractual modification can be made without prior notice, subject to the provisions of Article 85 of the Consumer Protection and Defense Code, developed in Article 41 of the Regulation on Market Conduct Management of the Financial System (SBS Resolution N° 3274-2017 and its amendments). Customers who do not require the benefit of this exception measure should contact their entity in order to reverse credit rescheduling (while maintaining the original conditions). In that case, the financial institution must inform its client of the procedure to be followed to reverse such contractual modification. The temporary inapplicability of liquidity hedging ratios has also been provided for, so that the financial system can release the liquidity buffers it holds.

Another measure aimed at relieving natural persons and companies, affected by the emergency situation, is the extension of the protest of securities held by the entities under their supervision, and whose payment is kept direct in Peru or whose protest was to take place in Peruvian territory, for an additional thirty calendar days counted from the expiry date of the period that legally existed to carry out such protest.

In the case of the cooperative system, through Multiple Office N° 11162-2020, unauthorized savings and credit cooperatives are empowered to attract public resources (COOPAC) to establish emergency measures so that debtors can meet the payment of the credits they hold with these entities.

In this sense, the COOPAC may also modify, if they so determine after the relevant portfolio analysis, the contractual terms of the various forms of credits granted to their debtors, without these modifications constituting a refinancing, provided that the total period of those appropriations does not extend for more than six months of the original term and that , as of the rescheduling date, the debtors are up to date on their payments.

- To ensure the operational continuity of supervised entities: to this end, financial institutions - and, in general, all entities under SBS supervision - have been allowed to reduce their hours of operation. The burden of periodic information sent by the monitor has also been reduced, restricting it to minimum information required and the referral time for daily reports has been extended. In addition, authorization for the opening of special offices, points of sale or public service shall be granted automatically to be regularized after the emergency.

- Besides ensuring the functioning of the market: to accomplish this objective, SBS has taken steps to maintain reasonable operation, seeking to ensure the provision of significant outsourced services and demand attention in non-face-to-face channels.

Deadlines for notification of response to user requirements and complaints have been suspended; but entities have been urged to respond to cases that could have an economic impact on users, after evaluation and based on available resources.

Also, the limits applicable to transactions with simplified e-money accounts have been extended to help people transact. Thus, the limit of each transaction has been extended from S/ 1 000 soles to S/ 3 000 soles (from US$ 303 to US$ 909 dollars approximately); and, from S/ 2 000 soles to S/ 10 000 soles (from US$ 606 to US$ 3030 dollars approximately) for consolidated balances of the same holder, in any form, in the same issuer of electronic money.

For accumulated electronic cash conversions from the same holder, under any form, on the same issuer in one month, the limit is extended from S/ 2 000 soles to S/ 10 000 soles (from US$ 606 to US$ 3030 dollars approximately).

As well, in the case of accumulated transactions (conversions, transfers, payments, conversions, etc.) of the same holder, under any form, in the same issuer in one month, the limit is extended from S/ 4 000 soles to S/ 15 000 soles (from US$ 1212 to US$ 4545 dollars approximately).

Also, in the case of the insurance sector, deadlines for policyholders to report claims during this time period have been suspended, considering limitations for free transit.

Finally, the SBS has been constantly monitoring the implementation of these measures, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP).

3. Labor

- In the National State of Emergency, you are allowed to go to your workplace with a pass just in case you work in health centers, banks, pharmacies, gas stations, media, telephone information centers, groceries, markets and supermarkets, convenience stores, public cleaning areas, hotels and accommodation centers.

- In April 2020, the obligation to withhold and pay the components of the monthly mandatory contribution (13% of the total salary) of members of the Private Pension System is suspended, this is an obligation of the workers, so the government tried to give them more cash income.

- The government authorized the workers who are affiliated to the Private Pension Fund Administration System to make the one-time extraordinary withdrawal of up to S/ 2000 soles (US $ 606 dollars approximately), it also applied for the peruvian citizens that are abroad. On May 1st, 2020, the Congress approved Law N° 31017 that let the workers withdraw up to S/ 12900 soles (US $ 3909 dollars approximately), after that the Executive Branch did not observe this law. Nowadays, the Superintendence of Banking, Insurance and AFP (SBS) has to prepare the procedure to implement this law in the following 15 days. The political analysts have divided into whether that law is an act of populism or no, and also the power between the executive and legislative branches.

- The SBS authorized to dispose of the Compensation Funds for Time of Services until S/ 2400 soles (US $ 730 dollars approximately), this compensation is paid by the employers by one salary a year, but the workers just could withdrawal it when they quit, change of work or been fired.

- The delivery of an extraordinary monthly bonus of S/ 3000 soles (US $ 909 dollars approximately) was approved for the health personnel of the Intensive Care Units, Hospitalization or those who carry out epidemiological surveillance and home visits to patients who receive outpatient care while the National Sanitation Emergency Decree is in force.

- Temporary disability allowance for patients diagnosed with COVID-19, workers whose salary is up to S/ 2400 soles monthly (US $ 727 dollars approximately). It is granted for the first 20 days of disability.

- The private sector employer receives a subsidy for each worker for an amount per worker of S/ 1500 soles (US $ 454 dollars approximately).

- Granting of monetary subsidy to independent workers of S/ 760 soles (US $ 230 dollars approximately).

- It is provided that the public and private sectors must implement remote work. It is not applicable to workers confirmed with COVID-19, nor to those who are on medical leave.

- The Ministry of Health established that the maximum working day of health professionals is six hours a day of effective healthcare work. Regarding the care staff guards, twelve hours per day or night guards should be prioritized, and a maximum of twelve hospital or community guards a month can be scheduled during the state of emergency.

- The Executive Branch, on May 5, 2020, has approved the Urgency Decree N° 053-2020 about the payment of an extraordinary bonus, worth S/ 720 soles (US$ 212 approximately), to members of the National Police, Armed Forces and National Penitentiary Institute (INPE), who are at the helm of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Until April 26, 2020, more than 1000 police have been infected and 17 police officers have died by the COVID-19. On April 24, 2020, the President of Peru designated Gaston Rodriguez, as new minister of Interior, instead of Carlos Moran, who left the ministry because of the big number of infections at the Police Department and also by alleged acts of corruption in purchases because of the pandemic.

- The Ministry of Labor and Employment´s Promotion established that the employers in the public and private sectors can modify and establish in a staggered manner the work shifts and schedules of their workers and civil servants as a preventive measure against the risk of the spread of COVID-19, without prejudice to the right to mandatory weekly rest of a whole day for week.

- The National Council for Labor and Employment Promotion, integrated by representants of Labor Unions, Employers and Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion established that the public and private employers provide protective equipment, facilitate safe transportation, respect of legal working hours and compensation payments and the permanent operation of the health and safely labor committees at the enterprises and public institutions.

4. Production and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

- From May 4, 2020, the activities will restart gradually, complying with protocols and sanitary standards. An extraordinary Commission will evaluate the proposal of the Council of Ministers for the gradual reactivation of activities, that commission is made up of representatives of regional governments, employers, academia, workers and the media.

- The Ministry of Production with the Municipalities organize itinerant markets, and their implementation at the national level is financed, through which producers ensure the supply of agricultural products that contribute to the daily diet, a balanced and healthy diet to face the health emergency.

- Creation of the Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Support Fund, which aims to guarantee the credits for working capital granted to the SMEs, as well as to restructure and refinance their debts. The fund counts with an initial amount of S/ 300 000 000 (US $ 90 909 000 dollars approximately).

- Peru's Prime Minister Vicente Zeballos on May 3 chaired a meeting aimed at implementing the supreme decree that authorizes the resumption of economic activities in four phases.

Attending were Minister of Economy and Finance Maria Antonieta Alva as well as Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Edgar Vasquez, among others. The Government published the Supreme Decree N° 080-2020-PCM^[10], which authorizes the resumption of 27 economic activities in four phases, taking the necessary precautions and protective measures to prevent new infections and minimize the risk of a spike in coronavirus cases.

Phase 1 of reopening begins in May, and the activities allowed in this stage are industry and mining, construction, tourism, and restaurant services, as well as trade.

On May 2, the Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra stressed that the activities will  begin as soon as the respective protocols are approved. Additionally, he said the restart will be gradual. "It will be slow, but the decision to start has already been made" he stated. The activities will restart according to the 4 following phases:

Phase 1: MID TO END OF MAY 2020

There will be a gradual reopening of some industries, some mining and some construction plus the sale of agricultural products and e-commerce. Also Opening up are business support firms to do with telecommunication, complementary to agriculture and storage facilities. Tourism-wise, restaurants can open for delivery and pick up service, hotels for Covid-19 patients only, tourist transport for essential activities.

Phase 2: JUNE 2020

The re-opening of the paper and printing industry, underground mining, more construction and sanitary projects, limited access to shopping malls, the sale of all agricultural products and import/export for retail purposes.

Tourism-wise, restaurants but with a reduced capacity to open, interprovincial transport and internal air travel to restart, travel agencies to open but only virtually.

Phase 3: JULY 2020

The reopening of all mining, construction, sanitation and commerce.

Tourism-wise, restaurants open as normal, international air travel permitted, walk-in travel agents re-open to the public, entertainment centres re-opened and tourist sites open to the public but only in limited numbers.

Phase 4: AUGUST 2020

All industries and commerce working as normal.

Tourism-wise, business “as normal” at all tourist sites. The complete reopening of beauty parlours, spas, entertainment facilities and rental properties. Conventions, fairs, meetings allowed. National and international travel in general permitted.

5. Social Assistance

- The government approved to transfer S/ 760 soles (US $ 223 approximately, 81% of the legal minimum wage) to 6.8 million families representing 75% of total households in Peru. The 25% remaining has a proven economic income by a salary reported by the Tax Administration Office.

             MONETARY TRANSFERS TO THE HOUSEHOLDS BY COVID-19

                  Source: Ministry of Economy and Finance of Peru; on April 24, 2020.

- Advance of money transfer to beneficiaries of Pension 65 and Non-Contributory Pension to People with Severe Disabilities in Poverty Situation for the periods from March to June 2020, to the month of March 2020.

- Reimbursement for burial for the insured of the Comprehensive Health Insurance in the event of death by COVID-19, that includes coffin, transfer of the deceased body to the crematorium and cremation, or to the cemetery in case there is not a crematorium in the city.

- Services to deal with violence against women and members of the family group will attend during the national state of emergency.

- The Government established the Delivery of a Monetary Subsidy of S/ 760 soles (US$ 230 dollars approximately) for rural households, which belong mainly to family farming, and whose measure will benefit 1 098 000 rural households nationally. Family farming is one of the country's main economic activities and produces 70% of the food of the 32 million consumers. These are small producers who own no less than five hectares of crops and supply food to the markets.

D. Education

- Postponement of the start of face to face classes in public and private elementary, middle and high schools, and universities and institutions of higher and technical education until May 04, 2020.

       - Remote start of the school year on April 6, 2020.

- The Ministry of Education started the program I learn at Home, this program is transmitted by the national networks, as the private channels, and radio, too. These educational programs are delivered to the students of public elementary, middle and high schools and alternative education, the classes are taught in Spanish and other nine languages, and also with sign language to the deaf students.

- The Ministry of Education (MINEDU) will buy more than 840 000 tablets with mobile internet for schoolchildren in rural and urban areas. This, so that they can continue to study, and thus advance the closure of the digital divide and allow them access to distance education materials. The Minister of Education, Martin Benavides, stated that 719 000 tablets with mobile internet service will be purchased for students in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades of primary school and of all middle and high levels of the rural area and 123 780 for students in the urban area who are in situation of poverty. In areas where there is no electricity, tablets will be delivered with solar chargers. The government also announced the purchase of 97 756 tablets with the same characteristics for teachers. All these acquisitions, for both students and teachers, will cost more than S/ 600 000 000 soles (US$ 181 818 181 dollars approximately). "A tablet, a small computer, which reaches a student in the rural sector, away, not only reaches the student, it reaches the whole family. Through this tablet everyone will be able to connect with the world, because nothing prevents the same family from being able to give it another use to access the extensive knowledge that allows the internet" the president said. For his part, minister Benavides said that these measures are a great step in addressing educational inequalities, one of the most important structural problems in our country, starting with the improvement of the conditions of study of our children. "By facilitating internet access for under-resourced students and teachers, we not only bridged the digital divide, but we drive the closing of learning gaps by promoting the use of a powerful tool for disadvantaged families" he said.

E. Transport

•  On March 22, 2020, the Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima and all the national airports were closed to all national and international flights. Since that date, the flights will be authorized in order to repatriate national citizens and foreigners, and for humanitarian aid, international trade, etc.

- The Supreme Decree N° 044-2020-PCM^[11], established that during the State of National Emergency, the use of private vehicles is prohibited, except the vehicles necessary for the provision of the services related to mitigate the pandemic. In case of non-compliance the Police or the Army are empowered to retain the driver’s license and the vehicle property´s document during the State of Emergency.

- The Ministry of Transport and Communications has prepared an urban mobility strategy that encourages the use of bicycles to avoid the agglomeration of public transportation. At this, the exclusive lanes will be available to transport that connect hospitals, schools and supply centers, as well.

 - The government reported that as of May 2, 2020; 14 267 citizens have returned to their regions since the national lockdown was established. All these people have been tested for discard and must be isolated for 14 days in hotels and the meals provided by the government as free.

- Peru's Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) on May 3, 2020 reported that it has authorized 380 international humanitarian flights to take 40 490 peruvian and foreign citizens back to their countries, in the context of the current health emergency due to coronavirus. The passengers were stranded after March 16, when Peru officially closed its borders to prevent further imported COVID-19. The opening of borders, for the arrival and departure of international flights, was authorized as part of the facilities provided by the MTC to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to repatriate peruvians who were stranded in different countries and return foreign visitors to their places of origin.

In this regard, the MTC authorized the operation of flights from and to Brazil, the United Kingdom, the United States, Argentina, France, Uruguay, Chile, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Asia, Switzerland, and Spain from March 21 to April 30, during the state of emergency period. The humanitarian flights also helped bring people to and from Germany, Poland, Mexico, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Russia and Italy. Peruvian nationals and foreigners boarded and disembarked at Air Group No. 8 of the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) in Callao, as Jorge Chavez International Airport has been closed since March 22 to comply with the social isolation measures stipulated by the Executive Branch.

F. Communication

- The government created the website https://www.gob.pe/coronavirus where all the citizens could be informed about all the coronavirus information, announcements, laws and recommendations. The Peruvian Ministry of Health (MINSA) maintains current COVID-19 statistics at https://covid19.minsa.gob.pe/sala_situacional.asp

- The Supreme Decree N° 044-2020-PCM^[12], established that during the State of National Emergency, the written, radio or television press personnel may transit during the period of compulsory social immobilization, with their special transit permit, their work photocheck and their National Identification Document.

- The Ministry of Culture informed to native american or tribes who live isolated in some areas of the rainforest about the measures adopted by the Executive branch.

- The Prime Minister's Office started state communication campaigns: I stay at home to promote the isolation, Peru is in our hands to promote the washing hands, Together we defeat the coronavirus to promote the trust of the citizens in all the measures against the coronavirus that the government is implementing.

- On May 22, 2020, the president Martin Vizcarra, in a televised press conference  asserted that his government does no hide anything in relation to information on the number of Covid-19 infections in the country. Also he ratified that his administration has been transparent in this regard and indicated that the worst enemies of peruvians in this pandemic are disinformation and corruption.

G. Justice

 - The Supreme Decree N° 044-2020-PCM^[13], established that during the State of National Emergency, the exercise of constitutional rights related to personal freedom and safety, the inviolability of the home, and the freedom of meeting and transit in the territory is restricted. Also, a general curfew in all the country from 20:00 hours to 5:00 hours; and in relation to the right to transit, it remains to:

- Acquisition, production and supply of food.

- Acquisition, production and supply of pharmaceutical products.

- Assistance to health centers, services and establishments.

- Employment, professional or business provision to guarantee the services of supply of food, medicine, water, sanitation, electricity, gas, fuel, telecommunications, cleaning and collection of solid waste and funerals.

- Return to the place of habitual residence.

- Assistance and care for elderly people, dependents, people with disabilities or in vulnerable situations.

- Financial institutions, insurance and pensions.

- Production, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of fuel.

- Hotels and accomodation centers, only for complying the quarantine.

- Media.

- Call centers only for services related to the emergency.

- Public servants and public officials in the institutions that provide the services necessary to attend the actions of the health emergency.

- The Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (MINJUSDH) published the Supreme Decree N° 004-2020-JUS, which simplifies and expedites the presidential thanks procedure for granting pardons to certain prioritized groups of vulnerable inmates.

This initiative will help reduce overcrowding in the country's 68 prisons and is one of the measures to address the health emergency against COVID-19.

The law establishes, exceptionally and temporally, special assumptions for the MINJUSDH Presidential Thanksgiving to assess and propose the granting of common and humanitarian pardons to convicted inmates, as well as commutations of sentences, within the framework of the health emergency declared at national level by COVID-19.

Among the assumptions of the special humanitarian pardon process are inmates with late-stage chronic disease, which increases the risk of COVID-19 infection and the development of complications. Likewise, those suffering from other chronic diseases who, considering prison conditions, are considered vulnerable to COVID-19 infection.

The assumptions of the special process of common pardon and commutation of sentence include mothers who remain with their child in the prison, those in a state of gestation, and inmates whose sentence, effective or redeemed, is served in the next six months. Similarly, persons convicted of no more than four years of age and those over 60 years of age (not serious crimes).

In addition, all these inmates must comply concurrently with the following conditions: have primary status, not record convictions for other crimes and/or fail to register detention at the national level, and not have an express legal prohibition.

In the special procedure of pardon on humanitarian grounds, the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE) shall forward the respective dossier to the Technical Secretariat of the Presidential Grace Commission, with the following documentation: Certificate of Judicial Background at the national level; simple affidavit signed by the intern indicating his/her habitual domicile; copy of the inmate's or inmate's medical history, by INPE or health entity; and the Medical Report with the medical history.

For its part, in the special procedure for the common pardon and commutation of sentences, INPE will forward the dossier to the Technical Secretariat of the Presidential Committee of Grace, with the Certificate of Judicial Background at national level. The Technical Secretariat is then responsible for attaching the corresponding documents that are submitted by the Judiciary Branch.

The benefits of Supreme Decree N° 004-2020-JUS which streamlines procedures to free inmates from vulnerable prisons and prioritized groups, which would benefit some 3,000 people deprived of their liberty.

• On the other hand, many inmates that have not until now a confirmed judicial sentence because their process does not end yet, have been required to the Judicial System to evaluate to change the prison measure to home detention or provisional liberty.

In this situation, the former presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori on May 4, 2020 left the Lima-based Chorrillos Women's prison. On April 30, the Judicial System changed the preventive prison order imposed on Fujimori on January 28, 2020. Instead, it ordered that she comply with an appearance with restrictions measure within the framework of the investigations over the Odebrecht case. As is known, she is investigated over money laundering offenses and other crimes, for having allegedly received contributions from Brazilian company Odebrecht in 2011 and 2016. In addition, the daughter of former peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, that also is in jail, will have to undergo the biometric control every month, report her activities to the aforementioned court, appear before the judicial and prosecutorial authorities that may require so, and is banned from communicating with the co-defendants or witnesses in the case. An economic bond worth S/ 70 000 soles (US$ 20 753 approximately) was also imposed on her to be paid within a period of five business days.

According to the appeal chamber, the preventive detention is not justified in the case of Keiko Fujimori. It added that this was not the most appropriate measure to better guarantee the development of investigations of the crimes attributed by the Public Ministry to her.

Furthermore, it considered that in the current COVID-19 outbreak situation, the recommendation of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights —which requests measures to counter overcrowding in prisons— should be taken into account, including the reassessment of preventive prison cases. Fujimori was expected to remain imprisoned thru April 27, 2021.

In this situation, many citizens are really concerned that many inmates or preventive prisoners leave the jail under the COVID-19 outbreak allegation.

- Respect to the correctional centers, The Minister of Justice and Human Rights, Fernando Castaneda held a virtual meeting with representatives of UNICEF in Peru, in which he provided details on the actions carried out by his management in the 10 correctional centers that exist in the country, in the presence of COVID-19. He said that isolation zones have been implemented at each correctional center to date and that adolescents in conflict with the criminal law receive constant epidemiological surveillance, as well as having the corresponding grooming materials. Also, each center has doctors, health professionals and has been allocated S/ 2 400 000 soles (US$ 727 272 dollars approximately) after March 15, 2020 in order to strengthen health and economic aspects of these establishments. The minister also proposed providing logistical support and the transfer of funds for US$ 150 000 to hire educators, hygiene equipment, grooming and kits for adolescents. He also raised the possibility of a kind of pardon for them, as has been arranged for the disabled adults.

- By Supreme Decree N° 070-2020-PCM, an additional measure was approved which aimed at locating and geolocation for the identification and monitoring of confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19.

The standard states that the administering entities of the telephone exchanges 113 (Ministry of Health-MINSA), access the personal data of callers reporting symptoms of the new coronavirus. This information is anonymised, i.e. without identification of persons, and forwarded to the various entities for the fulfillment of the functions and competences in their charge, including, affiliated public bodies of MINSA, Regional Directorates of Health of the Regional Governments, National Police of Peru and the Joint Command of the Armed Forces–CCFFAA, through the National Platform for State Interoperability.

It is also provided that only in cases of suspicious or confirmed COVID-19, the administering entities of the emergency telephone exchanges can also access the historical log of the geolocation of the device from which the call is made, including three days before its completion.

The Ministry of Health may access the personal data arising from the completion of the national questionnaire, in order to be able to adopt the corresponding sanitary measures. In turn, the Digital Government Secretariat will be able to access anonymised data derived from the questionnaire for the implementation of the government actions necessary to address the epidemic.

Entities accessing the indicated personal data should use such information only for the purposes previously defined; they shall also establish the appropriate technical, organizational and legal measures to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the data until its deletion, once the National State of Emergency has been terminated.

The National Authority for the Protection of Personal Data accompanies, monitors and monitors that the personal data obtained under Supreme Decree N° 070-2020-PCM are used only for the purposes set out in that standard, and that the processing is carried out in accordance with the Law for the Protection of Personal Data and its regulations.

H. Foreign Affairs

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Migration´s Office implemented at its website the Sworn Declaration of Traveler´s Health to Prevent COVID-19, to indicate the countries and cities visited in the last 15 days before go to Peru, and the cities to visit in Peru and the places where they would stay, and mainly the Health Information regarding if the traveler had contact with any person ill with COVID-19, and if currently does the traveler any of these symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, difficulties to breath  and if you have a previous illness, and also the authorization of the geolocation of the cell phone.

- On March 17, 2020, PROSUR, the Forum for the Progress and Development of South America (which was the an initiative proposed by the president of Chile, Sebastian Pinera, together with his Colombian counterpart, Ivan Duque, for the creation of an right wing integration body to replace the left wing Union of South American Nations – UNASUR).

PROSUR emitted a Presidential Declaration on Joint Actions to Face the Coronavirus Pandemic. This declaration was endorsed by the Heads of State and High Representatives of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay and Peru. In this framework, the leaders and highs officials concerned about the expansion of the COVID-19 and its vertiginous spread in the region; and, considering that the new virus was classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global pandemic, and that it has urged countries to increase mitigation actions, prevention of contagion, as well as aimed at caring for people. Analyzing the health, social and economic consequences of the pandemic, its impact in the regional context and the efforts that the fight against COVID-19 will require in the medium and long term, which should focus on the well-being of citizens. Recognizing that attention to this situation will require medium and long-term efforts focused on the well-being of citizens. Aware of the challenge represented by the new pandemic, and of the convenience of coordinating actions and strengthening regional cooperation to face this challenge in a concerted, agile, effective and efficient manner has the declared the following:

 “1. Approach criteria in decision-making in the management of the emergency caused by the COVID-19, sharing reliable diagnoses and epidemiological information on the virus.

2. Promote the preparation and implementation of policies, plans and actions that facilitate the transit and return of national of the States of the region to their countries of residence or origin, for which the Ministries of the Interior must work in close coordination, Foreign Relations, Health, Transport and other competent institutions, within a framework of consultation and in full respect of sovereignty and the legal system in force each country.

3. Periodically exchange information on the evolution of measures that have an impact on air, land maritime transport, especially regarding the suspension of flights and others measures that restrict or affect the mobility of people.

4. Avoid that the measures adopted may have a negative impact on the free movement of goods, especially those necessary or indispensable for health care.

5. Exchange information on experiences, campaigns and material that contributes to the creation of public policies and the adoption of mitigation measures to prevent the spread of the epidemic and to help counter false news and speculation that create social alarm.

6. Establish coordination measures with a view to joint purchases of medical supplies, within the framework of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), especially regarding supplies for the diagnosis and for the health personnel.

7. Coordinate with regional financial organizations, such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), economic assistance measures to face the crisis.

8. Maintain permanent contact, through official channels, for the evaluation of the agreed measures and/or the formulation of others that are required, creating and Ad-Hoc Group to follow up and coordinate on the issues referred to in this declaration.”

- The MOFA reported from March 17 to May 4, 2020; the government has transported 13 000 peruvian citizens from 26 foreign countries that were abroad non permanently. More than 5500 citizens were in the United States, of whom 1,800 were youth from the Work and Travel Program, other 6500 returned from Latin American countries, and the rest mainly from countries in Europe and Oceania.

 Also, they have tested and must be isolated for 14 days at their arrival in hotels and the meals provided by the government as free. For this, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published on its website the Registration Form for Consular Support to Peruvian Citizens Affected by the COVID-19 crisis. In this form, you have to declare: peruvian ID and passport, have a habitual residence in Peru, have scheduled your return flight for a date between March 16 and April 26, 2020; and you have been detained in foreign territory as a result of the closure of borders, the migration visa at the country that you are, airline and number of your return air ticket.

Given the closure of borders and of Jorge Chavez International Airport, a first transfer of S/ 12.9 million (about US$ 3.81 million) was ordered —which has already been executed— to support Peruvians stranded abroad. Additionally, a second transfer of S/ 7 million (about US$2.07 million) was made, which is still under execution.

"Repatriation efforts will be more focused on the cities where there are more compatriots; for instance, there are cases in Miami (U.S), Australia, and South Africa from where the return is complex" , the minister of Foreign Affairs, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, said. He also lamented the death of 82 peruvians abroad due to the pandemic.

- On April 2, 2020, the Lima Group emitted the Joint Statement N° 005-2020. (The Lima Group is a multilateral body that was established following the Lima Declaration on 8 August 2017 in the Peruvian capital of Lima, where representatives of 12 countries met in order to establish a peaceful exit to the Crisis in Venezuela.

This statement declares the following:

“The governments of Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela, members of the Lima Group, reiterate their commitment to contribute to the return of democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela, as well as the call made at its last Ministerial Meeting, held in Canada, for the international community to send a clear and unequivocal message to end the crisis suffered by the Venezuelan people, which has been aggravated these weeks with the pandemic COVID-19.

We reaffirm our conviction that it is the Venezuelans themselves who must lead the return to democracy in Venezuela and we believe that given the crisis, international accompaniment is urgent to find a peaceful solution in that direction. In this sense, we support the proposal of the President in charge Juan Guaido, from the National Assembly of Venezuela, to constitute a National Emergency Government that includes all the political and social sectors of the country. The latter would delegate to a Council of State the fundamental decisions to guarantee emergency response, pandemic mitigation, international financial aid; arrange the approval of the norms for national reconciliation, framed in the respect for humans rights, and the celebration of democratic general elections, with renewed and independent electoral organisms and international observation.

We also appreciate the important proposal of the United States of America, Framework for the Democratic Transition in Venezuela, for the formation of a Transitional Government and we highlight its coincidence with the objective of the Lima Group to guarantee the return to democracy in Venezuela through the free, fair, and transparent presidential and parliamentary elections. We also appreciate the efforts made by other actors in the international community with the same purpose; as well as those who bring humanitarian attention to the Venezuelan population and the millions of Venezuelans displaced from their country, to those who contribute with the effective resources to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the important role assumed by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); and those who fight daily for the respect of human rights in Venezuela.

The countries of the Lima Group are following with extreme concern the situation facing Venezuela, and we urge the international community to work together to support Venezuelans to find a peaceful solution that urgently addresses the serious crisis and emergency that face and lead to the reestablishment of the rule of law and the constitutional and democratic order in Venezuela. To do this, have the full support of the countries of the Lima Group.”

- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs subscribed a Declaration of the Ministerial Coordination Group on COVID19 on maintaining essential global links, this declaration was endorsed by Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The content of the declaration is the following:

“On April 17, 2020, the Ministerial Coordination Group on COVID-19 (MCGC) agreed on the following declaration and urged other countries to adopt a similar approach:

1. As the world manages the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is vital that we work together to save lives and livelihoods. Global cooperation is necessary to mitigate the unprecedented disruption to the global economy, trade, and travel. We must endeavor to deliver a strong and coordinated global health response including developing a vaccine and relevant treatments and to identify best practices to emerge from the crisis as a stronger, more interconnected world.

2. We commit to work with all countries to coordinate on public health, travel, trade, economic and financial measures in order to minimize disruptions and recover stronger by reinforcing global links and the multilateral system, and in support of sustainable development.

3. We recognize and commit to addressing the particular challenges faced by vulnerable countries and groups, including in Africa and Small Island Developing States, including the resilience of their health systems and access to medical supplies and personal protective equipment, and support a time bound suspension of debt service payments for the poorest countries that request forbearance. We also recognize that women are disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and that responses must account for gender-differentiated considerations.

4. We note the importance of maintaining air, land and marine transportation links and supply chain connectivity to facilitate the return home of travelers who may be stranded, minimize disruptions, ensure the necessary flow of goods and services between countries, notably the fair, transparent, efficient and timely access to and distribution of personal protective equipment, medicine and other essential medical material as well as food and enable humanitarian workers and NGOs to pursue their indispensable work.

 5. We acknowledge the importance and critical role of the scientific community in providing guidance to governments in managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. In this context, we will continue to promote and protect free trade and we agree that emergency measures designed to tackle COVID-19, if deemed necessary, must be targeted, proportionate, transparent and temporary, and that they do not create unnecessary barriers to trade or disruption to global supply chains, and are consistent with WTO rules.

7. We recognize with appreciation those air and sea ports that have remained open and have served as bridges to bring home stranded nationals and to support the transport of essential cargo. We express our thanks to the airlines and shipping companies, and their personnel, border and other national officials involved in this effort, that have continued to operate in exceptional circumstances.

8. Going forward, individually, bilaterally and through our participation in various global, regional and plurilateral groups, we will work with all international partners through the leadership of the UN, noting the UN’s Global Humanitarian Response Plan and the UN Supply Chain Task Force, recognizing the critical role of the WHO and its Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan, as well as the WTO, WCO, ICAO and IMO to:

a. encourages key transport hubs around the world to remain open to travel, transit and cargo by air, sea and land;

b. recognizing that airports and airlines are commercial operations, we will continue to work closely with our own domestic airports and airlines to ensure enough capacity to allow stranded travelers to return and to preserve vital connectivity;

c. encourage airlines and relevant authorities to maintain key travel routes to support these efforts to ensure as many stranded nationals as possible are able to return by commercial means as well as to permit essential travel, including essential business travel focused on minimizing the social and economic impact of COVID-19;

d. underline the importance of exchanging best practices and work towards a common approach in support of nationals travelling home;

e. minimize barriers to the operation of special flights where commercial routes are not possible and allow maximum flexibility for internal domestic travel to allow stranded nationals to reach airports; consistent with applicable domestic and international laws and public health directives, including self-isolation and other requirements upon return;

f. agrees to a joint commitment, in accordance with existing national laws and policies, to visa or status extensions, as appropriate, for individuals who are unable to leave because of COVID-19 related travel restrictions;

g. agrees to support stranded foreign nationals and offer them access to essential health-care services while fighting against discrimination and targeting based on ethnicity;

h. encourages sea ports to remain open for cargo operations and the continued availability of shipping services to support the transport of goods, including essential supplies, wherever they are needed;

i. taking into account the exceptional circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic for the air transport industry, encourage airlines to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, including through rebooking with alternative airlines if possible, and to assist passengers who want to cancel their trips or postpone them;

j. encourage our private sectors, working in close collaboration with health and public safety authorities, to continue their efforts to retool, scale up and repurpose manufacturing toward critical needs in order to meet national and global demands, including of vulnerable groups and countries, and begin consideration of improving efficiencies and the reliability of global and national production and distribution following the immediate crisis;

k. pool scientific resources and efforts, promote research and share findings, including through the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, GAVI and the Vaccine Alliance and welcome the launching of an International Alliance for COVID-19 Vaccine, to work towards developing a vaccine, therapeutics and enhanced testing kits to be available to all countries;

l. identifies best practices and lessons learned to assist all countries in recovering from this crisis.

9. Domestically, we commit to engaging our respective relevant national authorities on these issues. Internationally, we will remain in regular contact and encourage other states to support this initiative.”

I. International Cooperation

Until June 3, 2020, Peru has received more than US$ 60 million approximately in donations and technical assistance from other countries, international organizations, enterprises, non-governmental organizations, etc. to face the pandemic by COVID-19. Among the donations we have serological and molecular tests, face masks, ventilators, gloves, personal protective equipment, and others, as well as technical assistance via videoconference and in person as in the case of the People's Republic of China and Germany, which sent temporary medical missions to Peru. In the following lines, we could mention chronologically, in what consists these donations:

- On March 31, 2020, the global health organization based in Boston-USA, NGO Partners in Health donated to Peru 30 000 COVID-19 diagnostic tests.

- On April 2, 2020, the Chinese company Alibaba Group donated to Peru 100 000 masks, 20 000 molecular diagnostic tests for COVID-19 and 5 respirators. It should be noted that Mr. Jack Ma Foundation has highlighted that he will donate emergency supplies to 24 countries in Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Peru.

- On April 7, 2020, the Municipality of Zhongshan (Guangdong Province-China) donated to Peru 200 000 face masks and 100 thermometers.

- On April 12, 2020, the american multinational food, snack and beverage corporation PepsiCo donated to Peru 65 115 food rations for vulnerable peruvian children.

- On April 18, 2020, the United States government destined US $ 2.5 million to Peru to face the COVID-19 pandemic in technical assistance and training in infection surveillance, prevention and control, risk communication and community participation.

- On April 20, 2020, The International Atomic Energy Organization donated to Peru a real-time thermal cycling equipment for the detection of COVID-19, as well as supplies, reagents and personal protection elements for sample processing, which will be awarded to the National Institute of Health.

- On April 22, 2020, the chinese company Huawei donated to Peru 200 000 N95 masks, 2000 protective glasses and 2000 medical suits and a heat detection system and a platform teleconference in favor of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Interior.

- On April 23, 2020, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) donated to Peru 16 500 COVID-19 diagnostic tests, laboratory supplies, clinical supplies and personal protective equipment.

- On April 23, 2020, the swedish global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca donated to Peru 7000 masks to be delivered to the Ministry of Health.

- On April 28, 2020, The National Health Institute (belonging to the Ministry of Health) received 10 000 molecular test kits for diagnosis of COVID-19 donated by the Government of the People's Republic of China. The donation also includes protective aprons, facemasks, protective glasses, surgical gloves, and infrared thermometers.

- On April 30, 2020, in a phone conversation  Chinese President Xi Jinping told his Peruvian counterpart, Martin Vizcarra, China firmly supports the Peruvian government and people in their fight against COVID-19 and will continue to offer support and help within its capability, according to the media. During the conversation, Xi said that, facing the COVID-19 epidemic, the Chinese side has always followed the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and shared the epidemic-related information with countries as well as the World Health Organization (WHO) in a timely manner to advance international cooperation against the disease.

- On June 1st, 2020, the diplomat Suntae Park from the Embassy of South Korea in Peru and Jung Wook Lee, Director of Koica in Peru, with the Minister of Health, Victor Zamora, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra participated in the donation of 50 000 COVID-19 diagnostic rapid tests. Then, Mr. Suntae Park said that “In Korea, we say that a person who helps you when you are in a difficult situation is a true friend. Now is the time for solidarity, for cooperation, it is time for sharing. That is why Korea decided to make the donation. We want Peru not to feel alone. Let's fight this pandemic together”.

J. Tourism

• The Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Edgar Vasquez, affirmed that the tourism sector´s gradual recovery will begin with the domestic market through the implementation of biosafety protocols once the coronavirus pandemic is contained.

Tourism has different component sectors including national and international transport, entertainment centers, casinos, hotels; and, restaurants, which will be the first activities to reopen with delivery services.

• On May 4, 2020, the peruvian hotels “Casa Andina” announced its program Casa Andina Home in their 30 hotels in 18 cities around the country, a new way to stay. The program consists in rent a bedroom for 1 person, and with all the services of this hotels from 3 to 5 starts for an amount of US $ 700 monthly and US $ 750 for a double bedroom, with no guarantee to face the lack of guests because of the lockdown and for the close of the borders and airports and all the activities. This is a private policy that the enterprises are implementing until august where the government announced the restart of all activities.

K. Politics

• The approval of Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra stood at 80% in May, the latest Ipsos poll revealed on May 20, 2020. The survey show that Mr. Vizcarra´s disapproval rating was 17%. According to the study, the highest approval rating was recorded in Lima with 82%. In addition, 65% of respondents approved of the government’s performance, while 29% said they disapproved.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Vicente Zeballos’ approval rating was 58%, whereas the disapproval stood at 32%. As for the state ministers, 72% of respondents approved of the job performance of Economy and Finance Minister Maria Antonieta Alva, while 24% disapproved of it. Moreover, 54% of those surveyed approved of the job Health Minister Victor Zamora is doing, while 40% said they disapproved.

Additionally, the survey showed that 64% of the population was satisfied by the performance of the COVID-19 Operations COmmand, led by Pilar Mazzetti, whereas 30% disapproved of it.

L. Auditing and Control

-  On April, 2020, the Controller General´s Office started a Comprehensive Control to the Health Emergency by the COVID-19, to audit S/ 39 527 000 soles (US$ 11 977 878 dollars approximately) delivered to face the pandemic and for the economic revival.  

The Controller General’s Office emitted a Bulletin N° 16-2020^[14] over all the control activities made in March and April 2020, because of the COVID-19. The Controller General, Nelson Shack, said that while the health emergency lasts, concurrent control will be applied to the activities of public officials, to identify opportunities for improvement in public administration and avoid acts of corruption, and when the isolation measures would finish, the subsequent control will begin to identify the alleged criminal, civil and administrative responsibilities.

The Comprehensive Control to the Health Emergency by the COVID-19 covers the following objectives:

• Contribute to strengthening the response capacity of health services, supervising the contracting and distribution of medical equipment and supplies, verifying the authorization of the medical infrastructure and supervising the contracting and distribution of hygiene kits for educational institutions.

• Support the mitigation of the effects of social isolation and immobilization measures, verifying the process of acquiring and distributing essential products and supervising the delivery of subsidies as bonds.

• Assist in the implementation of measures to contain the health emergency, verifying the contracting and distribution of assets within the framework of epidemiological surveillance and investigation of COVID-19 cases, and supervising measures of distancing, isolation and social immobilization.

• Contribute to the implementation of economic reactivation measures, supporting the reestablishment of the payment chain in the economy and contributing to the execution of the prioritized public investment.

Among the audit services performed, we can mention the following:

• Preventive measures, diagnosis and timely treatment of police applicants in the School of Sub-officers of the National Police of Peru, it dues to a spread of COVID-19 among the students.
• Supervision of the management of bio contaminated solid waste in the local governments.
• Supervision of prevention measures and action plan to face COVID-19 in penitentiary establishments.
• Supervision of the service and cleaning and disinfection of public transport vehicles.
• Distribution and delivery of personal protective equipment to police officers.
• Supervision of the temporary markets.
• Supervision to the protection of elderly people in the public asylums.

From April 20 to 30, 2020, the Controller General´s Office supervised the care of patients with COVID-19, in 97 health centers in the country. And, the following facts were noted:

• Lack of health professionals.
• Lack of mechanical ventilators.
• Inoperative mechanical ventilators and health equipment in the health centers in the regions.
• Absence of isolation rooms for patients with COVID-19.
• Non implementation of differenced areas for triage for suspected cases of COVID-19.
• Absence of contingency plan.
• Insufficient budget.
• Shortage of personal protective equipment and N95 masks.
• Lack of inventory of goods delivered for care of patients with COVID-19.
• Inadequate management of contaminated solid waste.

M. Others

- On March 18, 2020, the National Confederation of Private Business Institutions (CONFIEP) and the Peru Trade International Association (COMEX) sent a letter to the government with request for tax and tax relief, mainly the postponement of the presentation of the annual income tax declaration. Likewise, the suspension of all claims or coercive collection for tax debts, which in Peru the National Tax Administration by all the disputes since March 15, 2020.

2.0 Urban Government

• Municipalities extend the expiration date to declare and pay the house property tax.
• Local governments were authorized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, to carry out the acquisition and distribution of basic groceries to be delivered to low income households.
• Urban governments during the National State of Emergency began to organize community kitchens for families in poverty.
• Protect the vulnerable population that is abandoned on the streets and grant temporary shelter. In the capital of Peru, The Municipality of Lima enabled the bullring to accommodate indigent people.

3.0 Academia

The role of the Academia has been important, with scientific and technical proposals for the government, from the public and private research, independent researchers, with the open data that provide the Ministry of Health or the National Institute of Informatics and Statistics, among other national or international institutions, and analyzing other indicators and facts that were happening in other countries, as well to promote knowledge that allow to the policy makers implement the best public policies to face the COVID-19.

Among the national researches, papers, books or articles emitted, we could mention the following:

• The COVID-19 and the importance of inclusive public policies^[15] by Universidad del Pacifico.
• Digital pinpointing, a tool against the COVID-19^[16] by Universidad del Pacifico.
• Between the COVID-19 and famine, do government bonds work?^[17] by Universidad del Pacifico.

Impacts of COVID-19

1.0 Health

• On June 12, 2020, the Minister of Health, Victor Zamora, informed that the health sector has 45% of the committed budget to face the COVID-19 pandemic. So, the Ministry of Health agreed to purchase good and contract services for S/ 614.2 million soles (US$ 186´121 212 dollars approximately) to strengthen COVID-19 patient care. Also, the hiring of additional personnel has been made with a budget of S/ 45.2 million soles (US$ 13´696 969 dollars approximately) and acquisitions of goods and services by S/ 1082 million soles (around US$ 327 878 787 dollars).

2.0 Economy

• On May 21, 2020, the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) reported that in the first quarter of 2020, the measures taken to contain the spread of COVID-19 had a negative impact on Peru’s GDP, which decrease 3.4% compare to the same period in 2019, this contraction is registered after 42 quarters of uninterrupted growth. Also, INEI informed that domestic demand decreased 1.8%  mainly due to the contraction of private final consumption expenditure (-1.7% due to lower purchases of durable goods in -11.2%, non-durable good -7.5% and services -1.3%) after almost 19 years, and due to the reduction of private investment (-14.9%), however, government consumption spending (7.2% due to higher spending on public health services 7.1% as well as on public administration and defense 9.5% to face the pandemic) and public investment (11.8%) experienced expansions.

• The World Bank (WB) at its report Global Economic Prospects^[18] emitted in June 8, 2020, forecasts a 5.2 % contraction in global GDP and a 7.2% contraction in Latin America and the Caribbean GDP in 2020, while is report^[19] of January 2020 projected a 2.5% in global GDP and a 1.8% in Latin America and the Caribbean GDP for this year.

Also the WB reported that the abrupt slowdown in the United States and China caused a sharp drop in export from commodity producing economies such as Chile and Peru. Respect this, the main exports from Peru are destined to China and to the United States.

As well, the WB referred that Peru among other countries of the region, announced fiscal stimulus plans, including  packages of social assistance measures, support for small businesses and additional health sector spending and tax deadline delay, and loan and utility payments temporarily suspended.

3.0 Tourism

• The Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Edgar Vasquez said that inbound tourism is expected to see a 65% fall. Only in March 2020, the sector contracted nearly 70% and will drop by almost 100% in April.

4.0 Production

• In June, 2020, the the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) emitted a Technical Report about the National Production^[20], where informed that national production decreased by 40.49% compared to April, 2019. Also, reported that from January to April, 2020, the productive activity decreased by 13.10% and in the annualized period (May 2019 - April 2020) decreased by 2.63%. This result is explained by the paralysis of a large part of economic activities, in the face of the National Health Emergency and Mandatory Social Isolation due to face of COVID-19, a situation that unfavorably affected the productive offer the main components of domestic demand such as household consumption reflected in the reduction in retail sales (-66.35%), the import of non-durable consumer goods (-8.63%), as well as investment in construction (-89.72%). Also, external demand (-49.38%) was negatively influenced by lower exports of traditional and non-traditional products. Also, the report pointed the following aspects:

• Negative behaviour from seven productive sectors explained 82% of the overall result: The result of the production index, in April 2020 (-40.49%) was determined by the decline in most productive sectors, this is the case of commerce; manufacturing; construction; mining and hydrocarbons; transportation, storage stamp; messaging; Accommodation and restaurants and services provided to companies that accounted for about 82% of the overall result. However, positive behavior was recorded in the financial and insurance sector; agricultural, as well as public administration and defense.

• Behaviour of productive activity according to large economic activities: domestic production, in April of this year (-40.49%), was influenced by the lower production of the sectors: primary (-26.78%), secondary (-66.69%) services (-36.91%). In the first four months of 2020, the primary (-9.53%), secondary (-25.60%) sectors exhibited unfavourable behaviour, services (-10.18%).

• Agricultural sector increased by 0.57% and accumulated nine months of positive results: In April, 2020, the agricultural sector grew by 0.57% due to growth in the agricultural sub sectors (0.39%) and livestock (0.95%). Among the agricultural products that stood out for their highest volumes were quinoa (25.7%), grape (21.4%), potato (12.2%), olive (10.6%), asparagus (10.1%), cocoa (10.0%) alfalfa (7.5%) by the largest cultivated area, favored by good climatic conditions; however, the production of branch cotton (-55.6%), avocado (-14.4%), shell rice (-14.3%) coffee (-11.1%). Similarly, production of livestock products such as pigs (2.4%), poultry (2.0%), eggs (1.9%) and fresh milk (1.5%).
• Fisheries sector decreased by 57.82% by the lower landing of species for direct and indirect human consumption: Production in the fisheries sector was reduced by 57.82% explained by the lower catch of species of maritime origin (-63.42%) for direct human consumption, intended for fresh consumption (-62.2%), canned (-57.8%), frozen (-43.4%) cured (-34.7%). In April, 2020, no fishing was reported for indirect human consumption (fishmeal and fish oil) due to the total widening of anchovy. In turn, inland fishing was reduced by 4.42%.
• Mining and Hydrocarbons sector decreased by 42.29% from lower mining production: INEI reported that the mining and hydrocarbons sector decreased by 42.29% in the face of negative performance of metal mining activity by -47.26% linked to zero iron production (-100.0%), tin (-100.0%); as well as lower zinc production (-86.3%), lead (-84.1%), silver (-73.6%), gold (-53.5%), copper (-34.7%), molybdenum (-10.7%). Similar trend reported the hydrocarbon subsector at -13.40% explained by the lower level of natural gas exploitation (-29.4%), crude oil (-14.8%) and natural gas liquids (-3.0%).
• Manufacturing production decreased 54.91% In April, 2020, production in the manufacturing sector was reduced by -54.91% due to the negative performance of the non-primary sub sector (-65.09%) and primary sector (-23.61%). Production of consumer goods (-55.05%); intermediate goods (-72.81%) decreased in the non-primary sub sector. capital goods (-98.74%). The result of the primary sub sector was explained by the lower fish processing and conservation (-83.3%); oil refining (-52.8%) precious metals (-8.7%). In contrast, meat processing and preservation grew (1.2%), as well as sugar (7.1%)
• Electricity, Gas and Water Sector contracted 25.58%: In April, 2020, the Electricity, Gas and Water sector was reduced by 25.58% associated with the reduction in production of the electricity subsector (-29.53%), of thermoelectric origin (-84.39%), hydroelectric origin (-11.06%) renewable (-0.40%). The gas sub sector decreased by 18.37% due to lower demand from distributors of vehicle natural gas (-78.1%), from companies (-34.1%) power generators (-6.3%). By contrast, the water sub sector grew by 0.41%, from the higher production of EPS Grau companies by 7.4% and Sedachimbote by 2.1%; instead, Sedapal decreased by -2.6%.
• Construction sector fell 89.72% because of lower domestic cement consumption and physical advance of works. Construction decreased by 89.72% associated with lower domestic cement consumption (-98.61%) and reduced physical progress in public works (-74.89%), as a result of the paralysis of activities within the framework of the National Health Emergency facing the country, by the presence of COVID-19. On the other hand, the decline in physical progress in public works was recorded in all three areas of government: Local Government (-85.6%), National Government (-47.7%) Regional Government (-69.1%). Depending on the type of works, road infrastructure (bridges and roads) decreased, non-residential buildings (schools, hospitals, health centers) and basic service works (water and drainage).
• Trade sector reduced by 65.41%, INEI reported that the trade sector decreased by -65.41% compared to similar month April, 2019. This result was due to the contraction in wholesale sales (-61.40%), retail sales (-66.35%) and the sale and repair of vehicles (-93.66%).
• Transport, Storage and Courier sector decreased by 69.11%: In April, 2020, production in the transport, storage and courier sector was reduced by -69.11%, underpinned by the unfavorable result of the transport sub sector (-75.30%), as well as storage and courier (-51.59%). The negative result of the transport sub sector was explained by the lower activity of air transport (-95.83%), water transport (-76.34%) and land transport and pipelines (-67.50%), in the latter highlighted the lower rail traffic (-71.79%) and by road (-68.86%); both passengers (-65.36%), load (-73.51%). On the other hand, the storage and courier sub sector was reduced by lower postal and courier activity (-95.28%) storage and transport support activities (-47.25%).
• Accommodation and Restaurants sector was negative at 94.55%: The accommodation and restaurants sector was reduced by 94.55% as a result of lower activity in the housing subsector (-99.55%) and the restaurant sub sector (-93.78%). The result of the restaurant sub sector was explained by the lower activity due to the closure of establishments due to the government measure on social restriction in response to the advance of the COVID-19 pandemic in the national territory. Restaurant business (-99.59%) which were mostly affected were fast food, cevicherías, restaurants, coffee shops, among others. The same trend presented, beverage services (-99.90%), catering (-96.50%) and food and concessional services (-62.70%).
• Production of the telecommunications and other information services decreased by 1.62% in April, 2020, the telecommunications and other information services´ sector retreated by 1.62% due to unfavorable behavior in the information services sub sector (-47.87%); while the telecommunications sub sector grew (7.29%). The result of the sub sector other information services affected the reduction and suspension of production and display of programs and films (-85.4%), smaller editing services (-74.9%), TV and radio programming (-55.7%), computer programming (-10.3%). The telecommunications sub sector increased by internet and subscription television services (9.9%), telephone service (6.4%) data transmission (2.8%).
• Financial and Insurance Sector increased by 4.60%: the financial and insurance sector grew by 4.60% driven by the increase in corporate credits to large, medium and small enterprises by 8.50%, aimed at the agricultural, hunting, and forestry sectors; transport, storage and communication; manufacturing; education; electricity, gas and water; real estate, business and rental activities. In turn, consumers grew by 6.39% and mortgage loans by 5.80%. Similarly, deposits increased by 11.34%, by the favorable result of savings deposits, term and sight deposits. However, service-time compensation deposits were reduced.
• Business Services decreased 61.75%, the services sector provided to companies went back by 61.75%, due to the lower activity in travel agencies and tour operators (-94.5%), activity of professionals, scientists and techniques (-66.6%), advertising and market research (-61.1%) and activity of administrative and business support services (-49.5%). With this result, the sector registers its second month with a negative result, after having 34 months of consecutive growth.
• Public Administration and Defence sector grew by 3.62%: In April, 2020, the public administration and defense sector increased by 3.62% for the services provided by the institutions of the National, Regional and Local Government, among which are the activities of the Interior sector, Public Prosecutor's Office, Judiciary, Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations, Health (hospitalization care, external consultations, specialized emergencies and emergencies and services to support diagnosis and treatment). In addition, Essalud and Defense activities were increased in order to counteract the negative effects of COVID-19.

Challenges

1.0 Health

• In the Health sector, we have many challenges as the followings:

The Ministry of Health has to acquire more field hospitals. A field hospital is an infrastructure mobile health care, self-contained and self-supporting that can be deployed, installed and expanded, or failing dismantle, with speed to meet needs immediate health care during a determined period. The experience of countries affected by large-scale natural disasters in the Americas has revealed very specific humanitarian needs in the health sector. Following are some points to keep in mind when considering making a request for a field hospital in the aftermath of a disaster. Also, the central government has to manage them, if not after the health emergency the region or province will not to this fields hospitals stop operating in its city, for that the central government has to give the security to the citizens that the hospital or health centers have the response capacity to face the current illnesses of the province or region. Besides that, for a field hospital to be useful, it should:

• be fully operational within 24 hours of the disaster.
• be able to provide services that  coincide with medical needs.
• allow for national health personnel to operate the technology contained within.

Another challenge is to implement the intensive care beds around the country, and with all the equipment needed as ventilators and oxygen. Also, try to get mobile ventilators like this, the Ministry of Health could move to other hospitals and cities according to the medical requirements.

Also, a more budget to offer more posts at the faculty of medicine and nursing into the middle time has more medical professionals and specialists. Give incentives for specialist medical doctors to work in the main cities and not only in the capital.

Improve the Telehealth policy in more health centers, until now just 1300 of 8000 health centers provide telehealth services around the country.

Review and regulate the hiring of foreign medical professionals, at least for medical specialist doctors.

Integrate the health national system at least in public and private sector, nowadays in the public sector we have many providers of health services as the army, air force, navy (Ministry of Defense), police (Ministry of Interior), and EsSalud that belongs to the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion and not to the Ministry of Health.

Incentive the return of peruvian health professionals that have studied in Peru but work in Spain, Italy and the United States for example.

Regulate that in a national state emergency of health, the Ministry of Health could manage or well coordinate with the private hospital and purchase their health services as well.

Then, in a national state emergency of health, there must be mandatory service for all the health professionals as a military service regime while the emergency is in force.

2.0 Economy

- Economically, all these observations, still preliminary, strongly suggest that we are facing a unique opportunity to develop financial products and services aimed at this user profile, build financial culture, relying on greater digitization of financial services. In this process, our response should take an adequate balance between the various objectives we pursue, such as those related to financial stability and integrity, and appropriate market conduct.

If the government and the society act appropriately, when this crisis is overcome, Peru can have a favorable environment for the development of more modern and digitized financial services in a shorter than initially anticipated time.

Also, the financial system must pay attention to the risks. Among the main ones, those associated with cyber threats, and those derived from outsourcing, with greater attention to the provider chain and the prevention of possible failures or errors. As well, pay attention to potential sources of fraud and other risks arising from increased digital presence.

Looking to the near future, one of the most important challenges in Peru will be to capitalize on and facilitate changes in consumer preference for sustained use of digital financial services, as well as foreseeing potential risks. In this sense, financial education and counselling will be crucial: first, to inform people about the options available for digital transactions; and, second, to develop skills and attitudes towards responsible use of money and digital financial services.

3.0 Education

• Respecting the Education, the Minister of Education, Martin Benavides, argued that it is necessary to rethink the public education system to include in it the tools of distance education, use all possible communication channels and innovate in the forms of teaching-learning. Benavides considered that this new model should maintain and strengthen the inclusive and intercultural approach, develop the competencies of the National Curriculum and prioritize the mental and emotional well-being of the student. "This is a dynamic process that will be marked by the health emergency" he noted. "We need to guarantee the right to quality and accessible education for everyone, wherever they are" he said during his participation in the CADExEDU webinar organized to discuss the challenges of the "I learn at home" strategy and the challenges of distance education following the COVID-19 crisis. In this forum, the minister highlighted the broad support that has received "I learn at home" as a tool to guarantee the right to education for millions of children and adolescents. "The strategy has produced a national mobilization for public education. It represents an opportunity to put the student at the center of the strategy, taking care of their well-being, and innovating the education system without turning their backs on inclusion." "We quickly designed the 'I learn at home' strategy as a way to ensure educational service, but at the same time, we started from the very clear diagnosis that it could not be a virtual education strategy, as most students live in households that don't have an internet connection" he said.     While he said hard work has been being carried out to close the digital divide, Benavides explained that in the current situation, MINEDU began designing content for television and radio, with citizenship-related issues covering all levels. "Students, right now, beyond what they are getting in their classes, are exposed to a real learning situation: they are seeing how others react, how the country reacts, what the news is, what the president says, how solidarity works in Peru" he told an audience of thousands of people, connected by videoconference. The minister emphasized that for the implementation of this distance education strategy, from the outset MINEDU sought the commitment of teachers and in the week before the start of classes gave them a lot of information about the different tools they have to bond with their students. He also highlighted the participation of regional education directorates and local education management units to coordinate the actions of the strategy and creatively reach all students who are in areas where television or radio does not arrive.

To date, the website aprendoencasa.pe has recorded more than 8 million views, and television broadcasts via TV Peru and other allied channels. In addition, more than a thousand radio stations from all regions of the country have been broadcasting the sessions prepared in spanish and nine native languages.

At that point, the Peru faced the lack of computers or laptops for the private school students and for the public school students have a television or radio at home, to could accomplish the educational public policy in this pandemic. At the National Household Survey 2018, held by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics of Peru, showed that  42.4 % of rural home with children between 6 and 16 years old and 15% in all the country do not have a television at home. Also, this national survey reflected more that more than 66% of households have not laptop or computer at home.

• Respect the clusters of spread of COVID-19 in Peru, there were mainly at the markets, where many sellers got the virus and spread to their clients, here we can realises many issues like the local government is not working enough to regulate first the markets in their cities, we are looking the even the citizens expect the intervention of the central government in all the issues, the decentralization in many areas as health sector have not been working. But going back to the markets, there were a necessity of the citizens and mainly of the homemakers, housewife mainly, to go to the markets many times per week, and for that in April also the government implemented that someday could go shopping for women and another for men, but this strategy did not worked, because for the household shopping the housewives were the most percentage of buyers, perhaps for the male chauvinism that peruvian society faces. For that, this policy of alternation did not work, just got more crowded the markets that the women could go out to shop, and the government abolished that measure. Finally, other interesting point that we could analyze is one of the reasons that made that population go many times a week to the markets, and according to the National Household Survey 2018, held by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics of Peru, showed that 46.9% of the households have not a refrigerator at their homes, what caused that many families have to go daily to the markets to buy meat and perishable goods.

4.0 Transparency

References

1.0 Health

1- ABC News. (2020, April 18). Fear meets fortitude in Peru hospital hard hit by COVID-19. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/fear-meets-fortitude-peru-hospital-hard-hit-covid-70225834

2- ANDINA. (2020a, March 19). Peru: Govt buys 1.6 million tests to detect coronavirus. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/Ingles/noticia-peru-govt-buys-16-million-tests-to-detect-coronavirus-789130.aspx

3- ANDINA. (2020b, April 26). President Vizcarra: Peru to receive 1 million COVID-19 tests next week. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-president-vizcarra-peru-to-receive-1-million-covid19-tests-next-week-794610.aspx

4- ANDINA. (2020c, May 5). Peru Health Min visits Loreto region to monitor COVID-19 response measures. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-health-min-visits-loreto-region-to-monitor-covid19-response-measures-795835.aspx

5- ANDINA. (2020d, May 6). Peru President oversees further Pan Am Village works to assist COVID-19 patients. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-president-oversees-further-pan-am-village-works-to-assist-covid19-patients-796115.aspx

6- ANDINA. (2020e, May 13). Coronavirus: Ejecutivo aumentará en 4,486 las camas de hospitalización y 232 de UCI [Coronavirus: Executive will increase 4 486 hospital beds and 232 ICU beds]. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-coronavirus-ejecutivo-aumentara-4486-las-camas-hospitalizacion-y-232-uci-797171.aspx

7- ANDINA. (2020f, May 13). President: Peru’s COVID-19 cases reached the peak, decline begins. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-president-perus-covid19-cases-reached-the-peak-decline-begins-797135.aspx

8- ANDINA. (2020g, May 21). Peru: EsSalud starts construction of fast-build hospitals in regions. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-essalud-starts-construction-of-fastbuild-hospitals-in-regions-798186.aspx

9- ANDINA. (2020h, May 22). Peru: Government extends state of emergency against covid-19 thru June 30. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-government-extends-state-of-emergency-against-covid19-thru-june-30-798483.aspx

10- ANDINA. (2020i, May 30). President: More than one million COVID-19 detection tests conducted in Peru. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-president-more-than-one-million-covid19-detection-tests-conducted-in-peru-799582.aspx

11- BBC News. (2020, April 26). Coronavirus: 17 police officers die of Covid-19 in Peru. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-52432216

12- Bloomberg. (2020, April 14). Peru Eyes Reopening Even as Virus Cases Surge on New Testing. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-14/peru-s-surge-in-virus-cases-comes-amid-ten-fold-testing-increase

13- Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Prevención y Control de Enfermedades. (n.d.). Vigilancia, Prevención y Control del COVID-19 [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Peru (CDC) COVID-19 Surveillance, Prevention and Control. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.dge.gob.pe/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=678

14- Ministerio de Salud de Peru. (n.d.). Covid 19 en el Perú - Ministerio de Salud [COVID-19 in Peru- Ministry of Health]. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://covid19.minsa.gob.pe/sala_situacional.asp

15- Ministerio de Salud. (n.d.- a). Ministerio de Salud - MINSA [Ministry of Health]. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/minsa/

16- Secretaría de Gobierno Digital de la Presidencia del Consejo de Ministros. (n.d.). Coronavirus (COVID-19) en el Perú [Coronavirus - COVID-19 in Peru by Digital Government Secretary of Presidency of Council of Ministers]. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/coronavirus

2.0 Justice

17- Bangkok Post Public Company Limited. (2020, April 13). Peru police arrest Chinese man for illegal COVID-19 testing. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.bangkokpost.com/world/1898750/peru-police-arrest-chinese-man-for-illegal-covid-19-testing

18- Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos. (2020a, April 18). Autoridad Nacional de Protección de Datos Personales supervisará la utilización de los datos de geolocalización en casos de infectados y sospechosos de contagio de coronavirus (COVID-19) [National Authority for the Protection of Personal Data will supervise the use of geolocation data in cases of those infected and suspected of contagion with COVID-19]. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minjus/noticias/126150-autoridad-nacional-de-proteccion-de-datos-personales-supervisara-la-utilizacion-de-los-datos-de-geolocalizacion-en-casos-de-infectados-y-sospechosos-de-contagio-de-coronavirus-covid-19

19- Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos. (2020b, April 23). MINJUSDH publica DS que simplifica procedimiento para evaluación y propuesta de gracias presidenciales ante emergencia por COVID-19 [Ministry of Justice and Human Rights publishes Supreme Decree that simplifies procedure for evaluation and proposal of presidential thanks to emergency for COVID-19]. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minjus/noticias/127792-minjusdh-publica-ds-que-simplifica-procedimiento-para-evaluacion-y-propuesta-de-gracias-presidenciales-ante-emergencia-por-covid-19

20- Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos. (2020c, April 23). Ministro de Justicia y Derechos Humanos expone sobre acciones del MINJUSDH en los centros juveniles ante el Covid 19 [Minister of Justice and Human Rights exposes on actions of the MINJUSDH in youth centers to face the COVID-19]. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minjus/noticias/129257-ministro-de-justicia-y-derechos-humanos-expone-sobre-acciones-del-minjusdh-en-los-centros-juveniles-ante-el-covid-19

3.0 Economy

21- ANDINA. (2020j, April 14). Peru President: Most businesses to reopen in June. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-president-most-businesses-to-reopen-in-june-792946.aspx

22- ANDINA. (2020k, April 27). Peru: Tourism sector recovery to begin with domestic market. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-tourism-sector-recovery-to-begin-with-domestic-market-794683.aspx

23- ANDINA. (2020l, April 28). Peru: Banks optimistic about financial programs for companies. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-banks-optimistic-about-financial-programs-for-companies-794954.aspx

24- ANDINA. (2020m, April 29). President Vizcarra: Peruvian economy working at 50% capacity. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-president-vizcarra-peruvian-economy-working-at-50-capacity-795126.aspx

25- ANDINA. (2020n, May 1). Peru: EsSalud to give some US$8.4 million in bonuses for medical and health care staff. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-essalud-to-give-some-84-million-in-bonuses-for-medical-and-health-care-staff-795349.aspx

26- ANDINA. (2020o, May 3). Peru PM chairs meeting on gradual resumption of economic activities. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-pm-chairs-meeting-on-gradual-resumption-of-economic-activities-795665.aspx

27- ANDINA. (2020p, May 6). Peru to give bonus to police, military and INPE agents during COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-to-give-bonus-to-police-military-and-inpe-agents-during-covid19-pandemic-preview-796076.aspx

28- ANDINA. (2020q, May 6). The Economist: Peru among 4 strongest emerging economies amid COVID-19 crisis. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-the-economist-peru-among-4-strongest-emerging-economies-amid-covid19-crisis-796170.aspx

29- Ministerio de Agricultura y Riego. (2020, April 19). Oficializan subsidio monetario de S/ 760 para más de un millón de hogares rurales [US $230 monetary subsidy for more than a million rural households]. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minagri/noticias/126668-oficializan-subsidio-monetario-de-s-760-para-mas-de-un-millon-de-hogares-rurales

30- Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas. (2020, May 28). Coronavirus: apoyos económicos del Estado por el aislamiento social obligatorio [Coronavirus: State financial support for compulsory social isolation]. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/8895

31- Superintendencia de Banca, Seguros y AFP. (n.d.). Medidas de la SBS ante la emergencia sanitaria COVID-19 [Measures to face the health emergency for the COVID-19 implemented by the Superintendency of Banking, Insurance and Private Pension Fund Administrators. Retrieved May 31, 2020, from https://www.sbs.gob.pe/covid-19

4.0 Education

32- ALJAZEERA. (2020, May 24). Listen, Watch, Learn: Peru’s school system takes to the airwaves. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2020/05/listen-watch-learn-peru-school-system-takes-airwaves-200523070210852.html?fbclid=IwAR1bj82XpbTK9Np3m5972m87F_gKp88RqwzM3cMPmiCCg6eYNIEoYifoo9o

33- Ministerio de Educación. (n.d.). Aprendo en casa [I learn at home by the Ministry of Education]. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://aprendoencasa.pe/#/

34- Ministerio de Educación. (2020a, April 14). Ministro Benavides: “Aprendo en casa” ha generado una movilización nacional por la educación pública [Minister Benavides: “I learn at home” has generated a national mobilization for public education]. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minedu/noticias/112671-ministro-benavides-aprendo-en-casa-ha-generado-una-movilizacion-nacional-por-la-educacion-publica

35- Ministerio de Educación. (2020b, April 18). Minedu comprará más de 840 mil tablets con internet móvil Para escolares de zonas alejadas [Ministry of Education will buy more than 840 thousand tablets with mobile internet for school children in remote areas]. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minedu/noticias/126152-minedu-comprara-mas-de-840-mil-tablets-con-internet-movil-para-escolares-de-zonas-alejada

5.0 Foreign Affairs

36- ANDINA. (2020r, April 13). Video features repatriation of Peruvian nationals due to COVID-19 pandemic. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-video-features-repatriation-of-peruvian-nationals-due-to-covid19-pandemic-792743.aspx

37- ANDINA. (2020s, April 16). 10,000 Peruvians repatriated during COVID-19 state of emergency. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-10000-peruvians-repatriated-during-covid19-state-of-emergency-793249.aspx

38-ANDINA. (2020t, April 17). U.S. donates US$2.5 million to support Peru’s fight against COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-us-donates-25-million-to-support-perus-fight-against-covid19-793428.aspx

39- ANDINA. (2020u, April 18). Peru FA Min: About 12,000 compatriots repatriated after border closure. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-fa-min-about-12000-compatriots-repatriated-after-border-closure-793512.aspx

40- ANDINA. (2020v, April 22). Peru exported 35 tons of food to Canada on single day at times of COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-exported-35-tons-of-food-to-canada-on-single-day-at-times-of-covid19-794085.aspx

41- ANDINA. (2020w, April 24). Peru thanks PAHO for donations to fight COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-thanks-paho-for-donations-to-fight-covid19-794310.aspx

42- ANDINA. (2020x, April 28). Peru receives 10,000 molecular test kits donated by China. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-receives-10000-molecular-test-kits-donated-by-china-794864.aspx

43- ANDINA. (2020y, May 2). China offers Peru scientific support to fight COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-china-offers-peru-scientific-support-to-fight-covid19-795580.aspx

44- ANDINA. (2020z, May 4). Peru FA Min: Over 13,000 compatriots repatriated to date. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-fa-min-over-13000-compatriots-repatriated-to-date-795785.aspx

45- ANDINA. (2020aa, June 3). South Korea: It is time for solidarity and cooperation to help Peru curb COVID-19. Retrieved June 5, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-south-korea-it-is-time-for-solidarity-and-cooperation-to-help-peru-curb-covid19-800082.aspx

46- Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. (n.d.-a). Consulado del Perú [Consular offices abroad, emergency telephone number and travel health affidavit by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs]. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from http://www.consulado.pe/paginas/Inicio.aspx

47- Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. (n.d.-b). Declaración Jurada de Salud del Viajero para Prevenir el COVID-19 [Sworn Declaration of Traveler´s Health to Prevent COVID-19]. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/rree/campa%C3%B1as/922-declaracion-jurada-de-salud-del-viajero-para-prevenir-el-covid-19

48- Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. (2020a, March 17). Declaración Presidencial de PROSUR sobre acciones conjuntas para enfrentar la pandemia del coronavirus [Forum for the Progress and Development of South America Presidential Statement on Joint Actions to Face the COVID-19]. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/rree/noticias/109167-declaracion-presidencial-de-prosur-sobre-acciones-conjuntas-para-enfrentar-la-pandemia-del-coronavirus

49- Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. (2020b, April 2). Comunicado del Grupo de Lima [Lima Group Statement]. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/rree/noticias/111783-comunicado-del-grupo-de-lima

50- Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. (2020c, April 17). Declaration of the Ministerial Coordination Group on COVID19 on maintaining essential global links. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/rree/informes-publicaciones/482927-declaration-of-the-ministerial-coordination-group-on-covid19-on-maintaining-essential-global-links

51- Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores. (2020d, April 18). Estados Unidos dona USD 2.5 millones en asistencia técnica al gobierno peruano para hacer frente al COVID-19 [The United States donates US$ 2.5 million in technical assistance to the Peruvian government to deal with COVID-19]. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.gob.pe/institucion/rree/noticias/126138-estados-unidos-dona-usd-2-5-millones-en-asistencia-tecnica-al-gobierno-peruano-para-hacer-frente-al-covid-19

52- South China Morning Post. (2020, March 29). Hong Kong tourist dies of coronavirus in southeastern Peru. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3077440/coronavirus-hong-kong-tourist-dies-covid-19-peru

53- U.S. Embassy in Peru. (2020a, May 4). Alert: Tickets Available for Eastern Flight on Monday, May 4, Peru (May 3, 2020). Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://pe.usembassy.gov/alert-tickets-available-for-eastern-flight-monday-may-4-peru-may-3-2020/

54- U.S. Embassy in Peru. (2020b, May 5). Alert: Repatriation Update and Peru’s Economic Recovery Plan (May 4, 2020). Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://pe.usembassy.gov/alert-repatriation-update-and-perus-economic-recovery-plan-may-4-2020/

55- U.S. Embassy in Peru. (2020c, May 31). COVID-19 Information. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://pe.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/

6.0 Transport

57- American Airlines. (2020, March 14). American Airlines Announces Additional Schedule Changes in Response to Customer Demand Related to COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from http://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2020/American-Airlines-Announces-Additional-Schedule-Changes-in-Response-to-Customer-Demand-Related-to-COVID-19-031420-OPS-DIS-03/default.aspx

56- ANDINA. (2020ab, April 18). Over 2700 Canadians stuck in Peru returned home. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-over-2700-canadians-stuck-in-peru-returned-home-793453.aspx

58- ANDINA. (2020ac, April 23). Peru: Borders to remain closed as preventive measure against COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-borders-to-remain-closed-as-preventive-measure-against-covid19-794244.aspx

59- ANDINA. (2020ad, April 25). Peru will keep its borders closed due to COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-will-keep-its-borders-closed-due-to-covid19-794474.aspx

60- ANDINA. (2020ae, May 3). Peru: 380 int’l humanitarian flights authorized during health emergency. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-380-intl-humanitarian-flights-authorized-during-health-emergency-795626.aspx

61- Traveling & Living in Peru. (2020, May 25). Travel Updates: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak in Peru. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.livinginperu.com/coronavirus-covid-19-in-peru-updates/

7.0 Politics

62- ANDINA. (2020af, April 13). Peru President urges Governors to support COVID-19 Command. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-president-urges-governors-to-support-covid19-command-792749.aspx

63- ANDINA. (2020ag, April 26). Poll: Peruvian President’s approval rating stands at 80%. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-poll-peruvian-presidents-approval-rating-stands-at-80-794600.aspx

64- ANDINA. (2020ah, April 27). Peru: Congress first virtual plenary session to be held next week. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-congress-first-virtual-plenary-session-to-be-held-next-week-794767.aspx

65- ANDINA. (2020ai, April 27). Peru Interior Min: Government is intolerant towards corruption. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-interior-min-government-is-intolerant-towards-corruption-794740.aspx

66- ANDINA. (2020aj, April 28). Peru PM informs congressional commissions of COVID-19 measures. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-pm-informs-congressional-commissions-of-covid19-measures-795000.aspx

67- ANDINA. (2020ak, April 30). Peru President: We deliver true information about COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-president-we-deliver-true-information-about-covid19-795191.aspx

68- ANDINA. (2020al, May 1). Peru: Government praises workers who fight against COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-government-praises-workers-who-fight-against-covid19-795498.aspx

69- ANDINA. (2020am, May 4). Peru: Keiko Fujimori leaves women’s prison. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/agencia/noticia-peru-keiko-fujimori-leaves-womens-prison-795814.aspx

70- ANDINA. (2020an, May 4). Peru President holds videoconference with mayors. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-president-holds-videoconference-with-mayors-795829.aspx

71- ANDINA. (2020ao, May 6). Peru President calls on citizens’ conscience to continue facing COVID-19. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-peru-president-calls-on-citizens-conscience-to-continue-facing-covid19-796009.aspx

72- ANDINA. (2020ap, May 20). Poll: Peruvian President’s approval rating stands at 80%. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://andina.pe/ingles/noticia-poll-peruvian-presidents-approval-rating-stands-at-80-798083.aspx

8.0 International Organizations and Other Countries

73- International Finance Corporation. (2020, April). Peru Takes the Fight Against COVID-19 Online. Retrieved June 2, 2020, from https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/news_ext_content/ifc_external_corporate_site/news+and+events/news/impact-stories/peru-fights-covid19

74- International Monetary Fund. (n.d.). Policy Responses to COVID19. Retrieved June 2, 2020, from https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19

75- Organización Internacional del Trabajo. (n.d.). Respuestas políticas nacionales (El COVID-19 y el mundo del trabajo) [National Policy Responses - COVID-19 and the world of work by International Labour Organization]. Retrieved June 2, 2020, from https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/coronavirus/country-responses/lang--es/index.htm#PE

76- Pan American Health Organization. (n.d.). Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.paho.org/en/topics/coronavirus-infections/coronavirus-disease-covid-19

77- The Government of the Republic of Korea. (2020, May 3). COVID-19, Testing Time for RESILIENCE. In recovering from COVID-19: Korean Experience. Retrieved June 13, 2020, from http://www.koica.go.kr/bbs/per_kr/766/323660/download.do

78- World Bank. 2020. Global Economic Prospects, June 2020. Washington, DC: World Bank. DOI: 10.1596/978-1-4648-1553-9. License: Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0 IGO.

79- World Health Organization. (n.d.). Coronavirus. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

80- World Health Organization. (n.d.-b). COVID-19 situation reports. Retrieved June 1, 2020, from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports/

81- United Nations Development Programme. (2020, April 6). Peru embarks on a comprehensive approach to COVID-19. Retrieved June 2, 2020, from https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2020/peru-embarks-on-a-comprehensive-approach-to-covid-19.html

82- Worldometer. (2020, May 31). Peru Coronavirus: 164,476 Cases and 4,506 Deaths - Worldometer. Retrieved June 2, 2020, from https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/peru/

9.0 Laws

Supreme Decree N° 044-2020-PCM

Supreme Decree N° 080-2020-PCM

Legislative Decree N° 1460