Peru: they drink an alcohol supposed to protect them from the coronavirus, and die

At least 16 people died in a remote region of Peru after consuming adulterated liquor supposed to "prevent" against Covid-19, the state agency Andina reported on Friday.

"These patients were admitted to Lircay hospital on March 28 for having consumed alcohol in order to prevent the spread and contagion of the coronavirus (...), which cost the lives of 16 people" , writes Andina, citing health authorities from the Andean region of Huancavelica, 400 km southeast of Lima, the capital.

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Police "seized the alcoholic beverages," which had been sold in an "establishment with a questionable reputation , " according to the agency Andina. "The symptoms presented by the deceased were those of poisoning," according to the regional government, quoted by Andina.

Since March 16, Peruvian authorities have implemented mandatory containment and a night curfew to try to limit the progression of the pandemic, which has so far infected 1,595 people in this country, including 61 deaths, according to the official balance sheet.