Location: Colombia
Event: COVID-19 Update and Quarantine Restrictions
COVID-19 Health Update and Quarantine Extension and Exceptions Update: According to the Colombian Ministry of Health, there are 11,063 cases of COVID-19 in Colombia as of May 10, 2020. Isolation measures in Colombia will continue through May 25 and a new children’s health initiative begins May 11. The use of face masks is required at all time in public spaces.
Extension of National Quarantine: On May 5, the Government of Colombia extended the national quarantine to May 25 (https://coronaviruscolombia.gov.co/Covid19/acciones/acciones-05-mayo.html) while opening additional sectors of the economy. On May 11, the government allowed more economic activity, including the sale of cars and furniture as well as for stationary shops, laundry services, and book stores to reopen. Please refer to local government sources to determine exactly what is open in specific areas. Our April 28 message provides additional information on Decree 593, with guidance on complying with the preventative isolation measures and included several exceptions to the national quarantine. A new exercise initiative was announced as part of Decree 593, allowing daily physical activity as prescribed by municipal governments.
New Children’s Health Initiative: The Colombian government announced a new initiative beginning May 11 to allow children outside. (Note: Bogotá specific instructions are included in the following paragraph). While the specifics depend on local instructions, the national government has said that when accompanied by an adult under the age of 60, children ages 6 or up may go outside between the hours of 8:00am – 11:00am, and children ages 14-17 may go outside between the hours of 2:00pm – 5:00pm, three days a week, within one kilometer of the home, for thirty minutes at a time. One adult may accompany up to three children. Parks will open, but playgrounds will remain closed. Some play items are prohibited. Please review the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare’s social media page and website and local municipality sources for further details and to ensure you are informed. Note that governors and mayors may impose additional measures; particular questions should be directed to local authorities.
Bogotá: Mayor of Bogotá Claudia Lopez announced new measures which will take place Monday, May 11. Changes include a 50 km max driving speed, the end of the gender-based quarantine restrictions, and set labor hours for opened sector employees. Bogotá’s specific instructions regarding permitted economic and outdoor activities can be found here. For full details visit https://bogota.gov.co/.
Domestic and International Travel: Per our prior messages, international flights remain grounded through the end of May with the exception of cargo and humanitarian flights as defined by the Colombian government. Flights within Colombia remain restricted to those responding to health, public order, state operation, or humanitarian circumstances. Ground travel between municipalities within Colombia remains heavily restricted. Mass transportation systems are operating within strict protocols with an occupancy of no more than 35 percent capacity.
For additional information as well as updates on actions taken by the Government of Colombia regarding COVID-19, please see https://coronaviruscolombia.gov.co/Covid19/index.html. For updates on the status of entry-exit information, quarantine, and important links regarding COVID-19 resources in Colombia, refer to https://co.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information//