Peru announces school closures, travel restrictions

Peruvian President Martín Vizcarra on Wednesday announced the postponement of the start of school classes until March 30. Many of Peru's private schools, which had started teaching at the beginning of the month, will also have to suspend their lessons until the same date.

In press conference on Wednesday, Vizcarra also ordered 14-day home isolation for people arriving to the country from China, Italy, France and Spain.

Peru's Health Ministry on Wednesday reported two new cases of the new coronavirus, which raises the number of people who have tested positive to 15.

The two new patients are aged 47 and 69, a man and a woman, respectively, both in the city of Lima.

For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough.

But for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.

The majority of people recover.

According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.

Peru's government disbursed $47 million for schoolchildren to receive hygiene kits and $28.5 million to the Health Ministry to buy more medical supplies.