Peru's coronavirus cases rise above 200,000

Peru's Health Ministry on Tuesday (June 9) said confirmed cases of the new coronavirus have risen above 200,000, with 5,738 deaths.

People wait outside Lima's central market as Peru extended a nationwide lockdown amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Lima, Peru May 8, 2020. (File photo: Reuters)
People wait outside Lima's central market as Peru extended a nationwide lockdown amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Lima, Peru May 8, 2020. (File photo: Reuters)

A spokesman for the ministry said a total of 203,736 cases were now confirmed. The country registered its first case on March 6 and has seen a surge amid a rigorous testing regime, but also high levels of poverty and informal labor complicating self-isolation efforts.

The number of infections in the country is the second highest in Latin America, after Brazil, and eighth globally.

Reuters