Deprived areas hit twice as hard by coronavirus

Villagers in the Huancavelica region of Peru have detained eight technicians who were repairing a wireless antenna, over fears their work would spread Covid-19.

The villagers mistakenly believed that the workers were installing 5G technology in the area.

False claims linking 5G to coronavirus have been widely shared online.

Scientists say a connection between the two is biologically impossible.

The workers have not been heard from since Wednesday evening and have not yet been released, their company says.

While Peru has recorded more than 6,000 deaths and almost 215,000 confirmed cases of the virus, its spread in the Huancavelica region has been limited.