Chile closes borders from April 5, tightens restrictions due to coronavirus pandemic

The government of Chile announced on Thursday that will close its borders again throughout the month of April -From next Monday 5- to try to contain the pandemic, which continues to break daily records and this day has recorded 7,830 new infections, or more than a million cases in total.

Travel abroad will be restricted throughout this month Both for Chileans and for foreigners residing in the country and it will be possible to leave only by means of an extraordinary authorization for urgent and qualified humanitarian reasons, health treatments or procedures essential to the good functioning of the country .

This was explained to the press by the Under Secretary for Crime Prevention, Katherine martorell, which announced that the entry of non-resident foreigners in Chile will be prohibited, also for 30 days, except for those duly authorized by the Chilean consular authority of the country of origin.

Regarding trucks entering by land border, the driver must have a negative PCR test of 72 hours maximum of antiquity.

“It’s a tough time to take action, but we need everyone’s efforts“Said Martorell, who also announced more restrictive measures to further reduce the movement of people.

New restrictions to reduce mobility

The authority has made a new definition of the products and services that are considered “essential household items” and in the next 15 days, they will be the only ones that can be marketed in the full quarantine and weekend lockdown zones.

“It is these goods or services which are intended for use by people at home (…) and which are essential for subsistence (food, medicine, toiletries and personal hygiene), teleworking, distance education and the conservation and security of the property, ”he said.

During this time and in these quarantine zones, Retailing of clothing and accessories, footwear in specialty stores, wholesaling of perfumes, toiletries and cosmetics will be restricted., among others.

To limit the movement of people in quarantine zones, only two individual weekly permits will be granted, whose You can only use it on weekends or holidays.

“With this, mobility can be reduced on weekends, where it is understood that citizens have more social gatherings or visits to their families, a case in which there is a greater risk of contagion,” explained authorities.

More, The curfew has been brought forward across the country, which will be in effect Monday at 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m..

Infection registry

The Under-Secretary for Health, Paula Daza, announced this Friday that 7,830 cases of COVID-19 have been recorded in the last 24 hours, what highest figure in the entire pandemic and with who the total million infections have been exceeded since the confirmation of the first case, in March 2020.

Of this total, 42,915 are active cases, which marks a new record, the number of people admitted to intensive care also reaching a new ceiling, 2,729, a situation which puts the hospital occupancy limit, which is 95% nationally.

As for the dead, 193 new deaths were reported, bringing the national total to 23,328.

Although Chile has one of the fastest and most efficient vaccination processes in the world – it has vaccinated nearly 6.8 million people and is the third country with the highest percentage of the population vaccinated – it does not was unable to stop the virus and after the southern summer suffered the severe scourge of a second wave.

At the moment, more than 83% of the population is in total quarantine, including the capital, where more than 7 million people live and where all non-essential businesses remain closed.

Details of the new restrictions

– The cordon sanitaire is brought forward to 1:00 p.m. this Thursday.

– The country’s borders are closed. Foreign travel is limited in April. For Chileans and foreign residents. A permit may be requested in the event of an extraordinary situation (fundamental for the country, essential for health or not to return).

– The entry of non-resident foreigners is prohibited for 30 days.

– Trucks entering through the land border require a PCR negative. Random border exams.

– Essential activities are limited. “Essential good” is modified. Communes in phase 1 and 2 on weekends, you can access essential goods for subsistence (food, medicines, hygiene and hygiene and items essential for the functioning of the house). You cannot access by delivery to another type of good.

– Supermarkets will not be able to sell non-essential items.

– Shopping centers closed in quarantine. They can open for supermarkets, banks and pharmacies.

– Supermarkets must apply for general travel permits for people.

– It limits and redefines “official essential“. A core public servant is a service provider or function that performs operational, logistical and productive tasks. Administrative, accounting, financial, consultancy or consultancy tasks are left aside. There is no permission for these people.

– Companies will have to specify the tasks that their workers perform for a single collective permit.

– Individual movement authorizations are limited: Only a weekend permit can be used in the towns in quarantine. If you use two during the week, you are not gone for the weekend.

– The curfew from Monday will begin at 9:00 p.m. throughout Chile.

– From this Friday, the forum of religious cults will be five persons.

The declaration of the Chilean government

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