Location: Bogota
Event: Bogota COVID-19 Quarantine Update
Bogota COVID-19 Quarantine Update: According to the Bogota Mayor’s office, as of June 15 there are 16,036 cases of COVID-19 in Bogota. Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in the city have reportedly exceeded 50 percent occupancy. The mayor’s office has placed four new neighborhoods in Suba, Ciudad Bolívar, Engativa and Bosa under Orange Alert. As of Tuesday, June 16, new measures to control the spread of the virus, including pico y cedula, will be implemented across the city.
Reintroduction of Pico y Cedula: The pico y cedula scheme restricts access to supermarkets, pharmacies, financial institutions and shops based on the last digit of one’s identity card. A card ending in an odd number can shop or bank on even days, for example, and should follow isolation measures on days that match their last cedula number. Those working are exempt from pico y cedula to transit to work. The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens residing in Bogota that they must comply with city regulations.
New Safety Measures Implemented: In response to current ICU occupancy rates in Bogota, the city’s hospital system has been placed under Orange Alert. Beginning Tuesday, June 16th, persons residing in the city with severe COVID-19 symptoms will be referred to a hospital by the District Health Secretariat, regardless of whether the hospital is public or private.
Orange Alert / Special Care Zone Regulations: The Office of the Mayor has placed four new neighborhoods under Orange Alert- view the complete list here. Residents in newly-designated orange zones will need to comply with isolation measures for fourteen days, beginning June 16 and ending July 1. U.S. citizens residing in a zone of special care, or “orange zone,” should review rules from the Mayor’s Office regarding compliance with the new orange alert regulations. Measures include:
- Only one person per household may leave the home for essential activities, such as grocery shopping or to purchase medicine;
- Mandatory use of face masks and two meters of physical distance from others;
- No outdoor exercise for adults or children;
- Limits on pet relief excursions;
- Deliveries are permitted, but only from within your area of residence;
- Enhanced monitoring by police and health teams.
For additional information on these measures, please refer to the Bogota Mayor’s website:https://bogota.gov.co/zonas-de-cuidado-especial.
Parks Reopening: The Mayor’s Office has indicated that new guidance is forthcoming on the opening of recreational areas where social distancing can be maintained. Please visit the Mayor’s website for more on this in the coming days. https://bogota.gov.co/
New city-wide regulations can be found in more details here: https://bogota.gov.co/mi-ciudad/salud/nuevas-medidas-para-bogota-desde-el-16-de-junio
Travel for Humanitarian Flights: As we have referenced previously, those under quarantine ARE permitted to go to the airport and take flights out of Colombia if flights are available. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to change with little or no advance notice. If you are interested in returning to the United States, please take advantage of the humanitarian flights announced through the STEP program. The U.S. government cannot guarantee the ability to arrange flights indefinitely. U.S. citizens should return immediately to the United States, unless you are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.
Visit the website of the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Colombia’s Coronavirus Information Page for additional information on these new measures and to register your contact and travel information.
The Department of State has issued a Global Level 4 Health Advisory for COVID-19.
Actions to Take:
- Consult the CDC website for the most up-to-date information.
- For the most recent information on what you can do to reduce your risk of contracting COVID-19 please see the CDC’s latest recommendations.
- Visit the COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov for the latest information.
- Visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19 for information on conditions in Colombia.
- Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
Assistance:
- U.S. Embassy Bogota, Colombia
Tel. +57-1-275-2000
acsbogota@state.gov
https://co.usembassy.gov/ - U.S. Consular Agency, Barranquilla conagencybarranquilla@state.gov
- U.S. Department of State – Consular Affairs 1-888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444
- Colombia Country Information
- Enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program(STEP) to receive security updates
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