Colombia: Authorities suspend travel from India as of May 21 due to concerns regarding COVID-19 variants /update 33

Event

Authorities have suspended travel from India as of May 21 due to concerns regarding COVID-19 variants. Entry to Colombia is prohibited for individuals who have been in or traveled to India within the previous 14 days except for Colombian citizens, residents, and other limited authorized travelers. Permitted arrivals must present a negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken within the previous 96 hours upon entry, self-isolate for 14 days, and take further tests 24 hours and seven days after arrival. The same restrictions were already in place for travel from the UK and Brazil.

Nonresident foreign nationals from all other countries are not allowed to board planes bound for Colombia without being in possession of a negative result from a COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 96 hours before departure. Colombian citizens, residents, and their families, as well as diplomats, will be allowed to board flights without the test result, but subsequently must either take a PCR test upon arrival in the airport and self-quarantine until they obtain the results, or self-quarantine for 14 days.

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 to and from Bolivia, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Curacao, Panama, Peru, and the US. Colombia's land and river borders remain closed, except for cargo and humanitarian aid, until at least June 1.

Domestic Restrictions
Authorities maintain a ban on social gatherings of more than 50 people, as well as a prohibition of consumption of alcohol in open spaces. The use of a protective facemask is mandatory in public settings and inside public transportation.

Additionally, local and regional authorities continue to impose additional measures, including nightly curfews and restrictions on individuals to attend businesses on certain days of the week based on the last number of their identifications (known as pico y cedula), depending on the intensive care unit (ICU) occupancy levels at hospitals within their jurisdictions. The national government's guidelines stipulate the following curfew hours:

00:01-05:00 in municipalities with ICU occupancy levels between 50-69 percent
22:00-05:00 in municipalities with ICU occupancy levels between 70-79 percent
20:00-05:00 in municipalities with ICU occupancy levels between 80-85 percent
18:00-05:00 in municipalities with ICU occupancy levels above 85 percent

Regional and local governments must also continue banning mass public events, keep dance clubs closed, and increase controls to prevent parties and large gatherings at private homes.

Due to their ICU occupancy levels, the following departments and cities (except Bogota and Barranquilla) are implementing the pico y cedula to restrict the number of people allowed within businesses during the day, as well as the following curfews:

Bogota: A nightly 23:00-04:00 curfew; most businesses must close by 22:00.
Cali: Until at least May 31, nightly 00:01-05:00 curfew.
Cartagena: Until at least June 1, nightly 22:00-05:00.
Department of Antioquia: Until May 23, nightly 22:00-05:00 curfew.
Department of Cundinamarca: Until at least May 24, nightly 00:01-05:00 curfew.

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. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments.