Peruvian casinos forced to reduce capacity following new restrictions

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The Council of Ministers of Peru has approved new restrictions that will force a number of businesses to reduce their capacity. The initiative, which includes casinos and gambling shops, aims to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 infections.

The restrictions become effective on January 25 and will be in force until the end of the month. Cities with moderate risk will have to comply with an 11pm to 4am curfew, while those with high risk from 9 pm to 4 am, and very high risk from 7pm to 4am.

The Peruvian Medical College (CMP) has also asked the Government and the Ministry of Health (Minsa) to limit the capacity in public spaces and shut down entertainment venues.

“[We need] to maintain the curfew, keep a limited capacity and prohibit entertainment activities (discos, bars, casinos, cinemas, etc). We also need to extend the supervision and control of the compliance of these measures and improve social communication,” recommended the CMP in a statement.

Additionally, it has been set that casinos will be forced to reduce their capacity to 40% in cities with moderate alert, 30% with high alert and 20% with very high alert.

Fernando Calderón, from the National Society of Gambling, told El Comercio that these measures come at a time when at least 60% of the sector has managed to reactivate operations.

“There were about 300 shops that had not yet opened. And those that are already operating, usually open casino tables at 6pm. When it comes to Lima, they would only be open for two hours. We need to evaluate whether they will be able to continue operating” he explained.