President Iván Duque made a series of statements on Monday regarding the Sanitary Emergency-related measures due to Covid-19 in Colombia.. The new guidelines were given in the presence of Minister of Health Fernando Ruiz and director of Dapre, Víctor Muñoz.
Here is everything you need to keep in mind.
(We recommend: No need for masks in confined spaces: these are the exceptions)
Head of state for two months from 1 May until 30 June, The health emergency in the country will spread. However, under these circumstances, non-pharmacological measures will begin to be reduced.
To reduce non-drug measures, Duque announced that as of May 1, the use of face masks in closed areas will be removed.excluding health services, nursing homes, transportation (not just public transport) and closed areas within educational facilities (ie masks should be worn in classrooms, not in open areas such as resting areas).
Face masks continue to be used in public transport services in different cities of Colombia. Similarly on flights and cruises.
These measures it will only be applied in municipalities that have reached 70% of the double dose and at least 40% of the booster dose..
“This confirms that to the extent that municipalities take these steps in vaccination, they can also move forward in reducing these measures,” Duque said. Said.
Duque explained that these measures were taken because of the good results of the National Vaccine Plan. “We have more than 83% of Colombians with at least one dose, and we’re just days away from reaching 70% of the country with a double dose,” he said.
The President announced that The Ministry of Health will publish a list of municipalities with vaccination standards, progress and percentages.. This will clarify where the new package of measures can take effect from 1 May.
It is important that these measures will only be implemented in municipalities that have reached 70% of the double dose and at least 40% of the booster dose.
“The advice for travelers visiting Colombia is to come to the country with a full double dose vaccination schedule or, in the case of Janssen, one dose. Those who do not have full schemes or have not been vaccinated will require a negative PCR test no longer than 72 hours. An antigen test not exceeding 48 hours may also be offered,” Duque explained.
Among the announcements made this Monday were the following: As of May 1, Decree Law No. 1615 of 2021, which abolished the application for a vaccination card, will be repealed.n for those attending public and private events of a mass nature.
“Everything related to applying for a vaccination card for admission to bars, gastrobars, discos, sporting events, cinemas, shopping malls, libraries, museums and public events will be eliminated,” the president said.
All biosecurity measures will be repealed, except those concerning health services.
Similarly, the PRASS strategy, the Sustainable Selective Testing, Monitoring and Isolation program based on the tracing and isolation of contacts of potential or suspected covid-19 cases, will be repealed. Instead, Duque explained, “collective surveillance and follow-up with health authorities will be consolidated locally.”
Source: Exame
