China News Service, July 24th, title: National War Epidemic: Under the sky of South America, the life and death of Peruvians "practice"
Author: Li Hongyu
As the birthplace of the ancient Inca civilization, Peru, an ancient civilization in South America, has a legend about the "sun god" for a long time. People here worship the sun and call themselves "Descendants of the Sun". On June 24th, the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, Peruvians will hold a grand "Sun Festival" to pray for the sun to return to the earth and ensure a good harvest throughout the year.
On June 24, 2020, Cusco, Peru, the empty Sacsavaman round castle remains closed during the annual sun festival.
In previous years, when this day came, people dressed in gorgeous traditional costumes would flock to the streets of Cusco; actors holding sacrifices in their hands, all the way to the outskirts of Saksava. Mann round castle. The solemn and mysterious ceremony often immerses tourists from all over the world.
But in 2020, the new crown epidemic will eclipse this annual event. Cusco, which was full of tourists before, is now deserted. As the world's top ten countries with the number of new crown infections, Peruvians are struggling to survive in the process of fighting the virus...
[Sequences of the epidemic]
Located on the steep and narrow ridge of the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu is surrounded by mountains and ridges. It is known as the "City of the Sky" and is the most iconic tourist attraction in Peru. Before the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, it received an average of 2500 visitors a day, which could bring tens of millions of dollars in income to thousands of locals every year.
The picture shows Machu Picchu, Peru, where no tourists visited during the epidemic.
After the lockdown due to the epidemic, there were no tourists visiting here for several months, and the local tourism industry became increasingly depressed. On July 10, when the trains here finally resumed operation, local people with large bags and small bags flocked to the station, desperately preparing to go abroad to make a living.
In the past few months, the "after-effects" brought by the epidemic to this country have continued to occur, including the mining industry, the pillar industry of the Peruvian economy. According to official statistics, in April, the country's mining and petrochemical industries shrank by 42.29%. Due to confirmed and dead cases among miners, in May, one of the country's largest mines, the Antamina Mine, produced almost no copper.
According to the forecast of the Economic Research Department of Credit Peru Bank, in 2020, the country's GDP will fall by 11%, and it may face the worst economic downturn in 100 years, or become the country with the largest economic contraction in Latin America.
Humans are not the only ones who suffer. Due to the epidemic, many zoos in Peru have been closed for months. The absence of tourists means that there is no income. Zoo operations are unsustainable, and many animals face survival threats. "We won't open for business until the end of this year," said Cabrera, the owner of a zoo in Lima, "but the animals can't wait that long."
["Newborn" in the epidemic]
How difficult people's livelihood is, it is just a profile of Peru under the epidemic. The sharp increase in demand for coffin manufacturing and funeral services may truly reflect what this country is experiencing.
On June 3, 2020, a worker prepares to paint the coffin in a coffin factory in Lima, Peru.
"I never thought that work can reach such a limit," said Genaro, a Lima coffin maker.
Coffins with prices ranging from US$118 to US$600 are selling quickly. "There are so many orders, people even want to order in advance," Genaro's wife revealed, "Before the epidemic, our monthly output of coffins was 100", but by June, the output could reach 100 in a single week.
On June 14, 2020, local time, in the Cathedral of Lima, Peru, photos of more than 5,000 people who died from the new crown were pasted on the bottom of the pillars and benches.
On June 14, a special mass was held in the Cathedral of Lima, Peru. There was no one under the dome. The bottom of the pillars in the church and the benches that were usually full of believers were covered with photos of the deceased. The air was filled with solemn and desolate atmosphere, with the bell of the church's mourning, spread to the entire city of Lima.
Today, the number of confirmed cases and deaths in Peru is still increasing. As of now, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in Peru has exceeded 370,000, with more than 17,000 deaths. Lima is still the most severely affected area in the country, with nearly 200,000 confirmed cases. .
While people lament the fragility and perishability of life, there are some small miracles that remind people that life can be so tough and powerful.
On July 2, 2020, in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Lima, Peru, medical staff are treating a new crown patient.
On July 18, a premature baby in Peru who was diagnosed with the new crown after he was born, defeated the virus and finally reunited with his mother.
Because his mother Liz suffered from preeclampsia and toxemia of pregnancy, this little baby named Jorge was born by caesarean section when he was only 23 weeks old.
At that time, his mother had been diagnosed, and Jorge was also diagnosed immediately after his birth. He weighed only 580 grams and was soon sent to the incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit.
After a month of treatment, the mother and son gradually recovered. The doctor said that Jorge's lungs are recovering. After the test result was negative, the mother and son can finally be reunited!
Although Jorge still needed a ventilator for the time being, Liz finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the child in the incubator, she said, "This is a very difficult and complicated month, but we are still on the road. Soon, we will win this battle."
["One cannot be less"]
In fact, Peru’s response speed after the outbreak of the epidemic is among the best in Latin America.
On May 1, 2020, in Puno City, Peru, soldiers patrolled the streets to ensure that the people follow the epidemic prevention regulations.
From the report of the first confirmed case on March 6 to the announcement of "closing the country and the city" on March 16, Peru quickly made a decision within 10 days, becoming one of the first countries in Latin America to order severe lockdown measures. An economist who closely followed the country’s epidemic situation even said that Peru “led the response to the epidemic in Latin America”.
However, after 107 days of national lockdown, Peru has become one of the most severely affected areas in the world. Bloomberg said in an article on July 15 that Peru was originally a “star country” in Latin America, but the epidemic “lost its light”.
"They ask people to stay at home, but many people have no savings, so this is impossible." The New York Times quoted Peruvian economist Hugo Opo as saying that only half of Peru’s households have refrigerators, and many households have a refrigerator every day. Must go to the crowded market to buy food.
Data map: Peruvian President Vizcarra.
The result of the blockade "did not meet our expectations," Peruvian President Vizcarra reluctantly said, "This is not just a health or hygiene crisis, but also an unprecedented social and economic crisis."
“After the third phase of the economic recovery, the increase in confirmed cases in Peru is true, but this is within our expectations.” Peru’s new Minister of Health Masetti said, “The new crown virus is killing humans, but the economic crisis will also kill us... …The world has changed and we must survive with the new coronavirus until we find a solution."
At present, many countries are actively developing a new crown vaccine, trying to find an "antidote" to defeat the virus. In early July, the new crown vaccine developed by the Peruvian scientific research team has produced antibodies in hens and tested them in mice. Subsequently, the scope of the test will be expanded to pigs and monkeys, and will enter the human test phase.
At the same time, even though Peru, like many other countries, faces various problems in this rare global pandemic, the Peruvians have not given up. At this special time, handicrafts full of national spirit were "born in response to the epidemic." Through their own means, they showed their determination to fight the virus to the end.
On July 9, 2020, local time, Puno, Peru, traditional embroidery artist Yolanda sews masks by hand in her family workshop.
In the province of Victor Fajardo in south-central Peru, Violetta, a folk craftsman, and his mother make masks together.
In order to make the masks practical and beautiful, they used painting and embroidery to present elements of strong traditional culture on the masks. Once these masks were launched, they were immediately loved by the public.
"Unexpectedly, the response will be so great. Our masks have also become popular because of the meaning they represent: this is our identity, our culture," Violetta said. "Masks allow me to continue to spread the art I inherited. It's like my ID card."
There are also folk craftsmen who wrote the slogan “NI UNA MENOS” (meaning “no one less”) on the masks, expressing their confidence to face the epidemic bravely; the mythological totems in Andean legends are like mountain eagles and sun gods, etc. Embroidered on the mask, it shows the determination of the "Descendants of the Sun" to fight the epidemic.
["The example of Peruvians"]
Merchant Mario Romero Perez still sold medical oxygen at a reasonable price when there was a medical oxygen crisis in Peru, saving many lives and was called the "oxygen angel." But on July 19, he died unfortunately because of the new crown virus.
Peru’s new Minister of Justice and Human Rights Anna Nella praised that Perez showed Peruvians what “empathy” means, and his character will continue. “He will be a model for Peruvians.”
The picture shows Peruvian farmer Luis at the farm. (Image source: the official website of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)
On April 27, Luis, an ordinary farmer from central Peru, appeared on the official website of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and was given a striking label-"Food Hero". Because he was not afraid of the threat of the epidemic and continued to work hard to ensure food supplies, he gained this reputation.
Louis’s farm mainly grows bananas, avocados and coffee trees and other crops. It is his main source of income to raise four children and support his studies.
In 2019, with the help of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Luis became the supplier of the Peruvian National School Feeding Program and similar local programs. His bananas and other crops are therefore sold at a good price.
This year, Louis originally planned to supply all the banana crops to the school, but the epidemic has messed up everything. The control measures caused him to experience various inconveniences every time he exported crops, but Louis still overcame various difficulties and successfully sold the products to neighbors and shops near the farm.
He said, “My bananas never touch the ground. When handling, I wash my hands and wear a mask. I use biodegradable bags to protect bananas from pests and diseases to ensure their safety and quality.”
And Luis is just one of many Peruvian farmers like him.
On July 24, the "City of the Sky" Machu Picchu will reopen under the strict implementation of epidemic prevention regulations. On the top of the mountain, Peruvians will continue their journey of "practice" facing life and death. (Finish)