Is curfew the same as social immobilization?

In the message to the nation issued last night, President Pedro Castillo reported that today, Tuesday, April 5, from 2:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., there would be compulsory social immobilization in Lima and Callao.

According to the Supreme Decree, “constitutional rights relating to the inviolability of the home, freedom of movement within the national territory, freedom of assembly and personal freedom and security are suspended”.

In addition, the emergency decree reads: “During compulsory social immobilization, strictly necessary personnel involved in the provision of health services, medicines, continuity of water, sanitation, electric power, gas, fuel, telecommunications and related activities, cleaning and collection of solid waste, funeral services, transportation of cargo and goods and related activities”

Faced with the surprising measure, many wonder whether curfew and social immobilization are the same thing or have some differences. The truth is that they are similar terms and in the following note we explain why. If you want to know how they can differ, continue reading.

ARE THEY THE SAME?

The government's official website, www.gob.pe, explains compulsory social immobilization as a “measure that requires you to stay at home according to where you live.” This means that, unless it is strictly necessary such as for health or work reasons, you should not leave your home for the time indicated. It should be noted that if the tasks you carry out are exempt from immobilization, you must carry a work pass to move with peace of mind.

The RAE defines curfew as a “governmental measure that, in exceptional circumstances, prohibits transit or stay on the streets of a city during certain hours, usually at night. This measure is therefore a limitation or a way of legally restricting freedom of movement, which is considered internationally as a human right. Therefore, it is usually only decreed in extraordinary situations such as during the health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic or in the event of wars.

When a government imposes a curfew, it is usually supervised by police institutions and the armed forces.

In this sense, curfew and social immobilization are similar terms, except that the former is much better known and understood by people. These measures are similar in that the curfew imposes a time when you cannot move freely through the streets or go to public spaces, and social immobilization refers to the measure itself that forces you to stay at home for a certain time, which is usually during the hours of the curfew.

They could be differentiated if there was a totally extreme case in which a government decrees indefinite social immobilization and there was no time when it was possible to move freely on public roads. Whereas when there is a curfew there are times when the population can travel on the street.

SERVICE THEY SERVE TODAY

- Salud

- Medicines

- Continuity of water services

- Sanitation

- Electric power

- Gas

- Fuels

- Telecommunications and related activities

- Cleaning and collection of solid waste

- Funeral services

- Transport of cargo and goods and related activities

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