An Irish man in lockdown in Peru said there is a fine line between staying healthy and contracting the coronavirus.
Conor Haugh, 28, intended to fly back to Dublin last Monday but the airline cancelled his flights.
He told The Irish Mirror: “Every day that this situation continues there is a higher chance of me contracting the virus and being quarantined for longer.
“I don’t have access to the social, familial, psychological, and governmental support that I would have at home.
“The buffer between being in a manageable situation and being in a lot of trouble is very, very thin.”
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Conor is in quarantine in an Air B&B in Lima with a Peruvian couple who asked him to leave the room.
He continued: “At the beginning of quarantine I left the house every two to three days to purchase supplies.
“The Peruvian couple I share the apartment with asked that I no longer do this.
“They have not left the house since and requested I now do the same.
“This seems to be the common local view. Many in hostels have been held to this instruction for days already.
“The last time I went outside I paused for a moment in the sunshine, and was immediately instructed by locals to return to my home.
“Out of respect to my cohabitants’ concern, I have agreed to no longer leave.”
Conor said that the Peruvian government has been “firm, but professional” in the face of the crisis.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said they are aware of the situation and are providing consular assistance.
Conor added: “The DFA have been sympathetic. However, there is little they have been able to offer in terms of concrete assistance.”
