There are curfew and emergency permits in Peru. Residents are only allowed to go out to buy food or medicines. Everything is controlled by the police and the military.
- It's very strict. You are arrested if you break the rules. Between six o'clock in the evening and five in the morning you are not allowed to stay out at all, says Ricardo Garcia.
Stuck in the countrysideAccording to the World Health Organization, there are approximately 1,300 confirmed covid-19 cases in the country and about 40 people have died. Most of the infection is in the cities and Ricardo Garcia is currently in the countryside 25 miles outside the capital Lima.
He has not yet joined the planes that have evacuated Scandinavians. The latest lifted last Thursday.
- I have been in contact with the embassy and it is the risk groups that are prioritized. But I'm on the Foreign Ministry's list, he says.
The decision to quarantine the land came suddenly and put it to many residents who did not have time to prepare. If the decision is prolonged, it would hit many hard.
- There are huge economic differences in the population. Many people rely on what they sell for the day. For them it is very tough now because they have no reserves left soon, says Ricardo Garcia.
Ricardo thinks it may take a few more weeks before he can return to Sweden. Until then, he will remain in the countryside.
- Here, the risks are less likely to be infected. I stay here until I know there is a plan waiting for me in Lima. Everything else is too risky.
- You really should avoid getting sick here because the health care is overloaded, he says.