administration of Peru’s socialist president Pedro Castillo has cancelled all social events, including family gatherings, on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day this year.
Using a supreme decree—Nº 179-2021-PCM—which passed on Dec. 9 and went into effect the following day, Peruvians are required to stay home without exception.
In the same order, those over age 18 must now show proof of vaccination against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus to enter any “closed spaces”, such as stores, markets, banks, or churches.
Additionally, those who work face-to-face jobs with more than 10 people must also present proof of vaccination to stay employed in non-remote positions.
Fears of a third wave of the CCP virus, particularly the Omicron variant, is the impetus behind the decision.
decree called the combination of holiday events and the pandemic “serious circumstances that affect people’s lives” and declared citizens must follow what the government referred to as the “new social coexistence.”
order went into effect three days after congress voted on Castillo’s impeachment for “permanent moral incapacity.”
motion failed to pass with only 46 of the required 52 votes.
President Castillo took office on July 28, 2021.
“We’re not allowed to visit family, or have a meal together. How is it the holidays?” Lima resident Victoria Calderon told Pezou.
Regarding the ordinance, Calderon thinks it’s too much to ask, “You’re not allowed to set foot outside your home [on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1], even if you’re fully vaccinated.”
Sixty percent of the country has already been fully inoculated against the CCP virus, and 71.2 percent has received at least one dose of the vaccine.
“It has been two years now we can’t celebrate [in groups], or be together with our families on Christmas,” Calderon said.
In November, Peru astonished the world by revealing itself as the nation with the highest number of deaths from the CCP virus—per population density—in the world.
virus has killed 201,490 people as of Dec. 10, according to World Health Organization data.
At present, Peru hasn’t reported a single case of the Omicron variant, which is the newest identified strain of the CCP virus.
Though the decree doesn’t outline punitive measures for violation of the order, fines for disregarding state-sanctioned pandemic restrictions have been in place since February 2021.
y are equivalent to $108 and apply if police catch you outside your home during a mandatory quarantine.
Driving a car during curfew hours means police can take your vehicle and driver’s license. You must also pay a financial penalty of $1,590.
Likewise, social, recreational, cultural, or religious activities—that draw a “crowd”—will earn participants a $100 fine.
And while some residents are feeling the pinch of restricted access to their families for the holidays, others are more worried about the employment aspect of the ordinance.
“We’re talking about losing your job if you don’t meet the requirement of fully vaccinated,” Trujillo resident Benjamin Leon told Pezou.
Leon said the order considers a full CCP virus vaccination schedule thee shots—including the booster—unless you were originally inoculated with the one dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, but that’s subject to change with little notice.
“I could be at work, have my three shots, and then randomly have my boss ask for proof of a fourth dose. If I can’t produce it [the proof], I’ll be terminated,” he said.
Labor lawyer Pamela Navarro confirmed a complete vaccination schedule against the CCP virus, according to the definition itself, includes the third booster dose.
“It indicates that if you cannot work in person—because you do not have the vaccine—you can do remote work to the extent your work is compatible with remote work,” she clarified.
Navarro also explained if an employer’s needs aren’t compatible with remote work, suspension of employment contracts for unvaccinated employees apply automatically.
“Nothing about this holiday feels joyous,” Calderon said.
Pezou : Peru’s Socialist Government Cancels Christmas Gatherings