Ecuador: Authorities lift temporary Easter season curfews April 9, return to earlier COVID-19 restrictions with some minor amendments /update 26

Event

Effective April 9, authorities in Ecuador have lifted the temporary nightly curfews that were imposed in several provinces April 2 as part of the country's effort to prevent a spike in COVID-19 activity during the Easter holiday season. Other restrictions at the national level remain mostly unchanged. Authorities urge all individuals to practice social distancing. The use of facemasks in public spaces is mandatory. All schools remain closed to in-person teaching and teleworking policies will remain in effect until at least April 26. The national government also encourages regional officials to ban access to beaches for tourism purposes; keep gyms, sporting centers, cinemas, theaters, bars, and night clubs closed; and limit the operating capacities of malls and restaurants to 50 percent.

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.

In Quito, the ban on private vehicle use remains in effect nightly between 06:00-22:00 through May 31. Under this regulation, motorists may only drive their vehicles in the Ecuadorian capital during the stipulated time frame on days of the week determined by the final digit of their license plates. These are:

• Mondays: Private vehicles with plates ending in 0, 1, 2, and 3 may not be on the roads.

• Tuesdays: Private vehicles with plates ending in 2, 3, 4, and 5 may not be on the roads.

• Wednesdays: Private vehicles with plates ending in 4, 5, 6, and 7 may not be on the roads.

• Thursdays: Private vehicles with plates ending in 6, 7, 8, and 9 may not be on the roads.

• Fridays: Private vehicles with plates ending in 8, 9, 0, and 1 may not be on the roads.

Other restrictions remain in place in Quito. Commercial establishments and public transport are limited to operating at 50 percent capacity, while cinemas, theaters, and auditoriums are limited to 30 percent. In Guayaquil, a nightly 22:00-06:00 ban on the use of private vehicles will be in place since April 12, with most businesses limited to operating at 30 percent capacity.

International Travel Restrictions
Starting 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 inocculated 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)