Guatemala: Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport (GUA) to resume flights September 18 /update 19

Event

Authorities announced on Tuesday, September 1, that Guatemala City's La Aurora International Airport (GUA) is scheduled to resume commercial flights from September 18 following its closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Currently, land and sea borders remain closed. 

A curfew is currently in place nationwide between 09:00 and 04:00 (local time), and members of the public have been encouraged only to leave their homes for necessary reasons. The public have been asked not to travel to the municipalities of Chinautla, Mixco, Villa Nueva, and Guatemala City's Zone 18. The practicing of social distancing and the wearing of a facemask in public is mandatory.

As of Wednesday, September 2, there have been 74,893 confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded nationwide, with 2778 associated deaths. Further international spread of the virus is expected over the near term.

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). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized.

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 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, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.