A woman wearing a face mask walks on a street in Lima, Peru, on March 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Renato Pajuelo/ANDINA)

Peru reported 8,805 new confirmed COVID-19 cases and 135 new deaths on Sunday, bringing the total caseload of infections to 164,476 and the death toll to 4,506.

Currently, 8,882 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, with 988 in intensive care units and on ventilators, the Health Ministry said.

Peru will continue to use the controversial drug hydroxychloroquine to treat patients, Health Minister Victor Zamora said, adding that it was recommended by a team of experts.

The World Health Organization has recently advised against using the medication on COVID-19 patients due to an estimated higher mortality rate caused by the drug.

Peru's lockdown has been extended to June 30 in a bid to contain the coronavirus outbreak.