Lockdown imposed in Lima as COVID-19 cases increase

Peru on Tuesday night introduced new measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, as researchers said late trials of China's Sinopharm vaccine would continue after a volunteer who was given a placebo instead of an actual vaccine.

President Francisco Sagasti announced a total lockdown of Lima, the capital, and nine other regions, with a significant increase in COVID-19 cases, which he said were close to overwhelming hospitals. This measure will remain in force till at least 14 February.

Peru reported 4,444 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday, totaling 1,107,239. The government plans to launch a massive vaccination campaign next month and hopes vaccines will help bring it out of the crisis that killed 40,107 people.

The University of Veneto Heredia, which is involved with the Cinpharma study, said it is "unread" volunteer participation in the test on instructions from the Peruvian health regulator, meaning it details the participants receiving the vaccine or placebo Issues.

"It is important to determine that the participant's death is not related to the vaccine because he or she has received a placebo, and so we will report to the relevant regulatory and ethics bodies and maintain it during the three studies of this phase." in a statement.

German Malaga, the chief researcher at the University of Cayetano Heredia, told the Reuters news agency by phone that the woman had died of diabetes.

Malaga said trial investigators have so far released two doses of the vaccine or placebo to 12,000 volunteers and are now following their reactions.

"It is developing without fail. These things can happen; COVID is a disease that causes deaths," he said.

Under the latest government restrictions, which will remain in force at least until the immunization campaign goes on, all non-essential shops will be closed. People will also have to work from home, while inter-regional land and air travel will be suspended.

The ban on flights originating from Europe has also been extended to include flights from Brazil to curb new, more contagious strains of the virus.