Coronavirus Outbreak: Mexican tourists stranded at Peru airport

Nearly 200 Mexicans are stranded in Cusco , Peru after the closing of borders applied by that country’s government as a preventive measure against coronavirus , which caused the cancelation of national and international flights.

Among them, there is a group of four persons from Tamaulipas who left Reynosa on March 10 and who told EL UNIVERSAL via telephone about the odyssey they are going through for they will have to stay in Cusco until April 2 , according to information by Peru’s administration.

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Fernanda Contreras

said that the situation is desperate not only for Mexicans but for all those who have lost their flights and do not have the economic resources to stay 15 days in Cusco. She stressed that Cusco’s Alejandro Velazco Astete International Airport closed its doors although it is possible to enter by explaining members of the army that you go for information. “They check your temperature before entering and let you in. We went to the airline and told us that the flights were canceled although some are leaving occasionally, but they call you beforehand to let you know if you are lucky.”

Contreras added that, until now, Mexico’s Chancellorship has not given them a favorable answer for the situation they are living in. “We were able to find a hotel room to stay in but neither Peru’s nor Mexico’s government have been able to solve whether they will be in charge of the expenses generated by the 15 days we will be here.”

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In addition, with the curfew , no one wants to stay on the street. “We met Mexicans who don’t have a place to stay and cannot stay at the airport because at 9 p.m. the army makes a revision and makes all those inside leave,” she said. Last night, Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard posted on his Twitter account that he is in touch with Peru’s government to “ease the return of Mexicans.”

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On Tuesday , Marcelo Ebrard revealed that the Mexican tourists stranded in Peru will come back to Mexico on Wednesday.

Through his Twitter account, Ebrard shared a statement by airline Interjet that informed that over 600 people will be able to return to their countries, whether it is from Peru to Mexico or vice versa.

“I thank the support from the Republic of Peru’s government and INTERJET’s commitment to ease the return of our compatriots,” said Ebrard on his Twitter account.

According to Interjet , the flights that were open are Mexico-Lima , Lima-Mexico , Cancún-Lima , and Lima-Cancún .

For its part, Aeroméxico made available the AM9895 flight that will depart from Lima at 15:55 to Mexico City next Thursday, March 19 .

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The arrangements for the flights was done through Mexico’s embassy in Peru which informed Peru’s Foreign Affairs Ministry about the Mexicans who were ready to leave the South American country.

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