Story By: Ana Lacasa, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

These images show cops leading men away after they nabbed 10 pals for playing football during a COVID-19 lockdown in Peru.

The group was caught breaking lockdown rules in the district of San Martin de Porres in the western Peruvian capital Lima and was taken to a nearby police station.

Social gatherings and leisurely activities are banned in the South American country and police spokesperson Ghino Malaspina del Castillo told local media: “They have been reported to the authorities for violating the sanitary preventive measures and disobedience.”

Since Monday, the National Police have been using loudspeaker systems to inform people of the lockdown.

Residents are not allowed on the streets unless it is an emergency or to buy food and medicine.

Local media said that 300 people were arrested in the city of Huancayo for walking the streets without justification and resisting the authorities.

In Peru, there are 155 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no reported deaths so far.

Health Minister Elizabeth Hinostroza said there are three serious ongoing cases in the country.

Two patients are based in Lima while the third is in the northern region of Piura.

One of the cases is for a 47-year-old priest and another involves a 97-year-old man.

The minister asked people to stay home and follow the preventive measures.

The ViralTab page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.