Colombia: Authorities extend nationwide coronavirus disease restrictions through Feb. 28 /update 25

Event

Authorities in Colombia have extended current travel and business restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), through at least Feb. 28. The directives also allow for regional and local authorities to take additional measures to be taken if their jurisdictions have high levels of COVID-19 activity and hospitalizations.

Under the current nationwide restrictions, mass gathering events remain canceled, nightclubs must remain closed, and consumption of alcohol outside of private households remains banned. Gatherings of more than 50 people are banned. These businesses and local authorities may request special permissions to national authorities for an exception. Other businesses are allowed to open with capacity limits imposed by regional or local authorities. Employees must work from home, as long as their physical presence is not fundamental for the operation of a business. Individuals must continue to wear facemasks in public spaces and adhere to physical-distancing and sanitization protocols.

In municipalities with high levels of COVID-19 activity, local authorities may enforce lockdowns and restrict certain activities, following permission from national authorities. In jurisdictions with intensive care units capacity (ICU) at hospitals of over 70 percent, national officials will provide local officials with specific measures to take to curb the infections. In municipalities with intensive ICU capacity at hospitals between 51-69 percent, may impose more restrictive measures, following an authorization from national authorities. Areas with ICU capacity below 50 percent will not be allowed to impose more restrictive measures than the ones at the national level.

International Travel
Authorities have reintroduced testing requirements for all international arrivals. All travelers must present proof of a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken no more than 96 hours before departure. Persons without a test may be permitted entry but will be subject to testing upon arrival and quarantine until they obtain the results. All travelers need to complete the "Check-Mig" online form between 24 hours and one hour before departure and must comply with regulations associated with contact-tracing upon arrival. Travelers with COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed to enter the country.

Approved international commercial passenger flights are continuing at Colombia's main airports, including from Bolivia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Curacao, Panama, and the US. All international flights to and from the UK have been restricted since Dec. 21 due to the spread of a variant strain of COVID-19 in that country. It is unclear when the restrictions will be lifted. Only Colombian citizens, residents, and other authorized travelers who have been in or traveled to the UK within 14 days before arrival are permitted entry subject to a 14-day mandatory quarantine. Colombia's land and river borders remain closed, except for cargo and humanitarian aid, until at least March 1.

Localized Measures
In Bogota only essential movement will be permitted at any hour of the day between 2000 Jan. 15 and 0400 Jan. 18. A nightly curfew between 2000-0500 will be in place until Jan. 18, during which only authorized individuals may be outside of their homes. The localities of Bosa, Ciudad Bolivar, San Cristobal, Puente Aranda, Rafael Uribe Uribe and Usme will remain under strict quarantine measures until Jan. 28. In the localities of Kennedy and Fontibon, the quarantine will end Jan. 21. Under the quarantine, individuals may only leave their homes to purchase food, medicine, and other essential goods. From Jan. 12-16, the mobility restrictions will be lifted, but officials will enforce a nightly 2000-0500 curfew. Only critical and essential personnel are allowed out during the curfew. ID-based restrictions will also continue throughout this period; individuals may only attend to the acquisition and payment of goods and services according to the last number of the individual's document. Persons with ID numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 are permitted on odd-numbered days, while ID numbers ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 are permitted on even-numbered days.

Quarantine measures will also be in place between Jan. 15-18 in the department of Cundinamarca, as well as in the cities of Cali and Ibague. In Antioquia, the quarantine will be in place between Jan. 15-19.

Authorities could further tighten, reimpose, extend, ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Emphasize basic health precautions, especially frequent handwashing with soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are unavailable. Practice good coughing/sneezing etiquette (i.e., covering coughs and sneezes with a disposable tissue, maintaining distance from others, and washing hands). There is no evidence that the influenza vaccine, antibiotics, or antiviral medications will prevent this disease, highlighting the importance of diligent basic health precautions.