El Salvador: Entry restrictions extended to travelers from Iran February 28 /update 1

Event

El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced on Friday, February 28, that most travelers from Iran will be denied entry due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country. Salvadoran nationals and diplomats will be allowed to enter the country, though will be obliged to spend 30 days in quarantine.

Bukele previously announced on Tuesday, February 25, that immigration officials will deny entry of foreign nationals arriving from Italy and South Korea. This measure remains in place and the same quarantine conditions apply for nationals and diplomats who traveled to these countries.

To date, no COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the country.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On February 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the risk of spread and the risk of impact of the virus is "very high" at the global level.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

To reduce the general risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue - throw tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider.

In the case that symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness emerge either during or after travel, individuals are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider. Travelers returning from China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran who develop symptoms of pneumonia are advised to call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to avoid potential spread of the disease.