Uruguay: Authorities ban entry of foreign travelers due to COVID-19 March 25 /update 2

Event

On Wednesday, March 25, Uruguayan authorities announced that all foreign travelers, except for citizens and legal residents, will be prohibited from entering the country due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Government authorities have asked residents to remain indoors as much as possible and are considering general quarantine measures if the situation worsens.

Previously on Sunday, March 22, Uruguayan and Brazilian authorities announced the closure of their shared border to curb the spread of COVID-19 in both countries. The measure will remain in place for at least 30 days. Flights to and from Europe and US continue to remain banned as of Friday, March 20 and Wednesday, March 18, respectively. Uruguay's border with Argentina remains closed since Tuesday, March 17, including the suspension of all sea, air, and land travel.

As of Friday, March 27, there are 274 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Uruguay. Further international spread of COVID-19 is expected over the coming days and weeks.

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, China). 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 March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored 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

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care urgently and share your previous travel history with your health care provider.