Chile to relax COVID-19 border restrictions for resident nationals and foreigners who are vaccinated

The health authorities of Chile said on Thursday that the country’s border restrictions, closed since April, will be relaxed, for nationals and residents who have been vaccinated.

The measure will take effect from Monday July 26 and, Although the borders are still officially closed, Chileans and residents who have completed their vaccination program will be able to leave and enter the south of the country, not foreigners, who will only be able to cross the border in exceptional cases and with consular authorization.

Those leaving the country must justify a negative PCR test (swab) 72 hours before their flight and their vaccination record, and on their return, they must arrive with a negative PCR test and undergo a 10-day home quarantine.

“For people with mobility permit activated (the card which certifies the complete vaccination schedule) at the time of entry into the country, isolation for 10 days will be done at home “, announced Public Health Under-Secretary Paula Daza.

Chile completely closed its borders last April and Until now, it forced all those who entered into quarantine in a sanitary hotel, a measure that will be maintained for the unvaccinated.

Después de una grave segunda ola que puso contra las cuerdas al sistema hospitalario entre marzo y junio, the pandemia remits in el país y los vacunados disfrutan de mayores ventajas, como acceder a gimnasios, teatros, cines y centros de adultos mayores en la mayor parte from the country.

Therefore, the change occurs after a “Gigantic decrease” in cases of daily infections, according to the Minister of Health, Enrique Paris, who recalled that although the statistics are favorable, it is necessary to maintain the health recommendations.

“There is evidence of decrease in new confirmed cases, but we have said repeatedly that we do not consider ourselves triumphant or that we have overcome the virusOn the contrary, ”said Paris.

This Thursday, the country recorded 1,861 new cases and 181 deaths, cumulating 1.6 million cases and nearly 35,000 deaths since the first case was recorded on March 3, 2020.

Paris confirmed -32% drop in new infections in past seven days nationwide, while the successful vaccination process already reaches 11.8 million immunized people (77.91% of the 15.2 million who make up the target population) out of a total of 19 million inhabitants in the country.

Chile is studying the application of a third dose in order to avoid epidemics due to the fact that there are already thirty cases of the contagious delta variant.

(With information from AFP and EFE)

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