Prognosis
Peru Eyes Reopening Even as Virus Cases Surge on New Testing
- Peru now has the second-most Covid-19 cases in Latin America
- President optimistic economy can start easing lock down in May
Doctors take notes after performing a coronavirus test in Lima, Peru, on April 13.
Photographer: Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo
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Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra said some coronavirus restrictions can likely begin to be lifted next month even as cases rise due to a surge in testing over the past week.
The greater number of cases, now second in Latin America behind Brazil, can be explained by a 15-fold increase in testing. Medical staff tested more than 15,000 people on Monday compared with about 1,000 a day a week earlier when authorities were limited to using more expensive, and scarcer, molecular tests, Vizcarra said.