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LIMA, Peru — A Utah couple said they have been stuck in Peru for days after the government issued a state of emergency, locking down the country for 15 days and closing all international borders in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Jodi and Brad Dallof were supposed to be back in Utah Thursday but their flight, like thousands of others, was canceled.
The country’s president issued a state of emergency Sunday, closing all international borders and declaring a mandatory 15-day quarantine.
The Dallofs said because there were less than 10 coronavirus cases reported in Peru when they left for their trip, they felt safe to travel there.
“We have always wanted to see Machu Picchu and this was our chance,” Jodi Dallof said. “We thought it was the safest place in the world, so as far as our travels, we weren’t concerned about it."
“It wasn’t until Sunday evening that everything changed,” Brad Dallof said. “The president said that the virus had jumped from 9 or 10 people to 71.”
That number has now reached 145, according to the US Embassy in Peru.
The Dallofs’ travel agent worked quickly to book them a flight to Mexico, but that was canceled.
“We had documentation, we had tickets, we had everything, we had seat numbers assigned and they wouldn’t let us get on,” the couple said.
A Utah couple is stuck in Peru after the government issued a state of emergency, locking down the country for 15 days & closing all international borders, in an effort to stop the spread of #coronavirus.
— Ashley Moser (@AshleyMoser) March 20, 2020
The country has 145 cases.
At 10:00, what they’re doing to get home @KSL5TVpic.twitter.com/yc14iZzDrK
They said they’re hoping help will come soon, keeping optimistic in this time of uncertainty.
“We understand what’s going on, we are just unfortunate enough to be apart of it,” Dallof said.
The Dallofs will be working with Utah Rep. Chris Stewart’s office to get a flight back to Utah.
