Brits stranded in Lima amid virus leave for the UK

Two flights with nearly 300 British nationals who were stranded in Peru due to the coronavirus pandemic were able to leave the country Sunday.

Organised by the British Foreign Office, the flights took off from a military base near the international airport in Lima.

In the days leading up to their departure, the British nationals had been staying in private homes and hotels throughout the country.

British Ambassador to Peru said on Sunday, "This today will be our third flight leaving Peru for the UK" and added that "tomorrow will have two British Airway flights flying back from Lima to London".

Peru's President Martin Vizcarra virtually shut down Peru last week, closing hotels, restaurants and the international airport, leaving thousands of international travellers and tourists stranded.

Peru currently has 852 confirmed cases and 18 recorded deaths related to the virus.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

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

The new coronavirus has caused a global pandemic that has sickened at least 720,000, killed 33,000 worldwide, crippled economies and forced restrictions on the movement of millions of people in an effort to stop the virus from spreading further and overwhelming health care systems.