Ecuador: Authorities announce curfew in most of the country April 23-May 20 /update 27

Event

Authorities have issued orders to impose curfews in 16 of the country's 24 provinces between April 23-May 20, as part of the country's effort to prevent a spike in COVID-19 activity. The affected provinces are Azuay, Carchi, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Ríos, Manabí, Pichincha, Santa Elena, Santo Domingo, Sucmbios, Tungurahua, and Zamora Chinchipe. Officials will impose a nightly 20:00-05:00 curfew from Monday to Friday; weekends will have 24-hour curfews, beginning Fridays at 20:00 until Mondays at 05:00. During curfew hours, individuals may only leave their homes for essential purposes, including the purchase of basic goods and responding to medical issues.

City buses will operate at 50-percent capacity. Interprovincial buses will operate at 75-percent capacity, but only those that have planned trips of more than six hours may circulate. Restaurants may operate at 50-percent capacity, while public establishments may operate at 30-percent capacity. The sale of alcoholic beverages will be prohibited during the curfews in the affected provinces. Those working in essential sectors are exempt from these restrictions.

In the remaining provinces, other measures will be in effect. The sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited beginning 18:00 April 23 through 05:00 May 20. Further, teleworking is obligatory where possible, and in-person classes are suspended.

Municipal authorities are still empowered to impose tighter restrictions on business operations and public movement, depending on local disease activity. Such measures could include capacity limits and restrictions on operating hours, as well as limitations on access to entertainment and recreational facilities.

International Travel Restrictions
Since April 9, all passengers entering Ecuador from Brazil, including those who had a layover there, must quarantine at government-authorized hotels for 10 days upon arrival, regardless of the result of any COVID-19 tests. The following requirements are in effect for all other persons arriving by air:

• Travelers must present a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen test for entry; the test must be taken within 72 hours before departure for Ecuador.

• Travelers possessing proof of having been inoculated with a full course of an approved COVID-19 vaccine may enter without a negative PCR test.

• Travelers diagnosed with COVID-19, with the onset of symptoms occurring more than a month before travel and who continue to have a positive result in their PCR test, may still enter Ecuador provided they do not present symptoms and provide a medical certificate confirming their good health.

• Passengers presenting COVID-19 symptoms will be subject to an antigen test upon arrival. If the test is positive, the traveler must complete a 10-day self-quarantine. Nonresidents must complete the quarantine at a government-regulated hotel or accommodation.

All restrictions are subject to amendment at short notice, depending on local disease activity.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements and appointments. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)
Coronavirus Ecuador (Spanish)
Air Traveler Entry Protocols (Spanish)
Map of Color-Coded Municipalities (Spanish)