Weekly Report
HRS COVID-19 Report as of January 15th, 2021.
Summary: 92 million infections and almost 2 million deaths reported worldwide. A second wave of the virus is being known in different forms, so the countries start to think in curfews and frontiers closing again.
Argentina:
1,757,429 positive cases and 44,983 deaths.
Due to the increase of cases, mainly because of the Summer holidays, the government has established a curfew from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. All bars, restaurants, and shops must be closed. The maximum number of people allowed in social gatherings is 10. Fines will be imposed to those that do not comply. Public transportation will be reserved for essential workers and those bearing the corresponding permits. All incoming Argentine nationals or residents need to complete a sworn declaration, 48 hours prior to arrival, confirming that they do not present COVID-19 symptoms. They must also show a negative PCR test and comply with a 7-day quarantine on arrival. Borders are closed for incoming non-resident foreign nationals until January 31st, 2021, except for:
· Tourists coming from neighbouring countries that are residents of those countries and that will remain in the city of Buenos Aires;
· Non-resident foreign nationals that are directly related to an argentine citizen - these must comply with the same protocols as those of argentine nationals or residents detailed above;
· Those involved in international trade transport cargo via air, land, sea, rivers, or lakes.
· Transporters, air and sea crew, as well as those operating sanitary flights or transfers;
· Foreign nationals that are in transit in Argentina to continue their trip to another country. These must show a ticket confirming departure to another country, comply with the national sanitary protocols, and show no signs of COVID-19.
Outdoor activities are permitted following the guidelines and protocols of each jurisdiction. Schools and universities continue to be closed until further notice. Schools are closed now for Summer break, and classes will begin in February. Banks are open, and transactions can be made but only with previous appointments. Public and Administrative offices, as well as Immigration offices, are slowly opening up, but an appointment is required.
Aruba:
6,228 positive cases and 52 deaths.
The Aruba government has announced the following measures that will be in place until January 31st:
Curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
· Closing time: Latest at 10:00 p.m. for all establishments. This does not apply to establishments on hotel properties, but it is applicable to casinos located within hotels.
· Prohibition of public gatherings: Between 7:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. It is not allowed to gather in public spaces such as parking lots and on beaches. A maximum of 2 persons can be together, but if they are members of the same family, then it can be up to 4 persons.
· Musical entertainment & dancing at restaurants etc.: Only 1 musician is allowed. No dancing.
· Yachts and boats: No more than 4 persons simultaneously on board. This is not applicable to commercial vessels such as charter boats or catamarans, which are allowed to operate at a maximum of 50% of capacity.
· Shops and Supermarkets: No more than 1 person per family allowed inside. Compulsory to wear a mask also outside if social distancing of at least 1.5 meters is not possible.
· Contact sports are not allowed; other sports are permitted with a limit of 25 persons outside or 10 persons inside. No spectator public allowed.
· Restaurants: Maximum of 4 persons at a table (both inside and outside). No musical entertainment allowed, only background music, dancing not allowed.
· Social meetings: No more than 10 persons inside or 25 persons outside.
Barbados:
278 positive cases and 7 deaths.
Visitors traveling from the U.K., in addition to the mandatory COVID-19 PCR test taken at least 72-hours before arrival in Barbados, will now also be required to undergo a second COVID-19 PCR test in Barbados, five days after the date of their first accepted test. Until the second test is completed, visitors from the U.K. will remain in hotels designated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Their movement will be restricted within that property. They will also be monitored for seven days after arriving in Barbados, including daily temperature checks and reports to their assigned health officer.
Bolivia:
144,708 positive cases and 8,957 deaths.
Under Supreme Decree 4309 issued by the Bolivian Government on August 20th, 2020, returning Bolivian citizens, Bolivian residents, and other foreign passengers are no longer required to quarantine at a designated hotel when they arrive in Bolivia. Currently, only Boliviana de Aviacion (BOA) is operating flights between Bolivia and the U.S. When passengers buy their tickets to Bolivia, they will no longer be required to pay upfront for seven days of stay at a designated hotel for quarantine. Passengers may be asked by the airline to complete an additional sworn medical statement, which should be submitted to the Regional Bolivian Consulate before traveling. Passengers may be subject to additional quarantine restrictions and health screenings upon arrival and should inquire with the airline or local authorities at their destination. International flights started to be admitted, and the most critical cuts on economic sectors have been lifted.
Brazil:
6,335,878 positive cases and 173,120 deaths.
The Government published Ordinance No. 4518 on November 12th, 2020, exceptionally and temporarily restricting the entrance of immigrants in Brazil by sea and land transportation, regardless of their nationality, for a period of 30 (thirty) days. The restriction on foreigners entering the country does not apply to:
1. Brazilian, born or naturalized;
2. Immigrant with permanent residence, for a fixed or indefinite period, in Brazilian territory;
3. Foreign professional on a mission at the service of an international organization, as long as duly identified;
4. Foreign employee accredited by the Brazilian Government;
5. Foreigner in the condition of:
a) spouse, partner, son, father or curator of a Brazilian;
b) whose entry is authorized explicitly by the Brazilian Government in a clear public interest or for humanitarian reasons;
c) bearer of the National Migration Registry.
6. Charge transport.
For maritime matters, the restrictions of this decree do not prevent:
· The entry, by air or waterway, of a maritime crew to execute specific functions on board a vessel or platform operating in jurisdictional waters, provided that the migratory requirements appropriate to their condition are observed, including that of having an entry visa, when this is required by the Brazilian legislation;
· The landing, authorized by the Federal Police, of maritime crew for medical assistance or for connection of air return to the country of origin related to operational issues or the termination of an employment contract (provided that the specific conditions of the standard are observed).
Border residents and Land Frontier:
The restrictions indicated on this Ordinance do not prevent the traffic of border residents in twin cities, upon presentation of a border resident document or another supporting document, once the same reciprocity treatment is guaranteed to Brazilians by the neighboring country (this rule does not apply to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela). Exceptionally, the foreigner who is in a land frontier country and needs to cross it in order to board a flight back to the country of residence may enter Brazil under an authorization from the Federal Police and go directly to the airport based on a previous official authorization from the embassy or consulate of his country of residence, or upon presentation of the corresponding air tickets.
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela:
In the event of entry into the country by road, other land or waterway transportation, the exceptions discussed above do not apply to foreigners from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Traffic by border residents in twin cities also does not apply to foreigners from the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
Republic of Paraguay:
The restrictions mentioned in the Ordinance do not prevent foreigners from entering in the country by land between the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of Paraguay, once observed the migratory requirements appropriate to the immigration condition, including an entry visa, when required by the Brazilian immigration law. In addition, the restrictions of this Ordinance do not prevent foreigners from entering in Brazil by air, once provided the appropriate migratory requirements to their condition and complying with all law requirements, including a specific visa, when required by the Brazilian immigration law. The conditions presented by this Ordinance could be revised at any time and it could also be complemented, changed or extended, considering the technical assessment made by ANVISA. Failure to comply with these measures will result in civil, administrative and criminal liability, as well as immediate repatriation or deportation and the disqualification of an asylum claim.
The Ordinance # 478 of October 14th , 2020 was revoked.
Chile:
552,864 positive cases and 15,430 deaths.
The Arturo Merino Benítez Airport in Santiago city is open for the entry of foreigners with tourism purposes since November 23rd. Any foreigner arriving in Chile must comply with all sanitary protocols, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Colombia:
1,316,806 positive cases and 36,766 deaths.
The following airports were reopened: Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and Cartagena. The countries allowed to travel from are: USA, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Guatemala. Special conditions and protocols might apply for traveling to Colombia, so it is strongly suggested to consult your travel agency for more information. The mandatory quarantine has been replaced by specific measures such as restrictions for cinemas, theaters, bars, gyms, and other indoor activities. The primary industries have started working, and hotels & restaurants are already open. Offices are still limited to work from home, and schools remain closed with online classes.
The Immigration Office has informed through an official statement on virtual channels the following:
· Immigration Office continues to work on the implementation of biosafety protocols. It has been created the online application CHECK-MIG, which will serve to reduce service times at the migratory points of entry and exit from Colombia. This is aimed at improving safety and preventing the spread of COVID-19. This tool will allow the traveler to enter and register, 24 hours before their trip, and up to 1 hour before the closing of their flight. When registering the information, the traveler will receive a confirmation email in their email. More details in the link: https://apps.migracioncolombia.gov.co/pre-registro/public/preregistro.
· It is estimated that the Immigration Office will partially resume its activities during September and October, with a maximum capacity of 30% in each Migration office.
· IDs can be requested with the electronic visa itself. To prevent the foreigner or his proxies have to go personally to pick it up, it will be sent.
Costa Rica:
140,172 positive cases and 1,731 deaths.
From November 1st, a complete reopening of air frontiers was completed. It is allowed for residents and nationals to enter the country by land. Requirements for tourists entering Costa Rica are:
· Complete the “Pase de Salud” form at https://salud.go.cr
· Negative PCR test taken before traveling (no more than 72 hours)
· Travel insurance covering quarantine accommodation (if needed), as well as COVID-19 treatment
A Costa Rica national entering the country with a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours will not be required to quarantine.
Curazao:
2,379 positive cases and 4 deaths.
The government keeps a curfew in the island for all establishments, closing time for non-essential business will be from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Other conditions inside the island:
· Groups larger than 4 people are not allowed in public areas.
· A maximum of 50 people is allowed per establishment.
· A maximum of 50 people is allowed in religious centers.
· Sports events can continue without the crowds. Training can also continue in open spaces.
· Gyms, fitness centers, Crossfit box, etc. will have a maximum capacity of 25 people allowed.
· Schools will now have a maximum capacity of 25 kids per classroom, starting at groups 8 and over.
Flights to and from the United States were resumed on November 7th, 2020. Only residents of Connecticut (CT), Florida (FL), New Jersey (NJ), or New York (NY) who have been physically present in one of those four states within the last 14 days specifically will be allowed to enter. A driver’s license will be required to prove residence in one of the four states mentioned above. Travelers are required to complete an online immigration (ED) card and a Health Department Passenger Locator Card before traveling. Travelers coming from states other than CT, FL, NJ, or NY must request specific permission in addition to providing a negative COVID-19 PCR test result and agreeing to a 14-day mandatory quarantine at the traveler’s expense.
Dominican Republic:
144,302 positive cases and 2,333 deaths.
Curfew hours were updated to:
· From Monday to Friday: 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
· Saturdays and Sundays: 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Borders are opened for all travelers. Schools are on a virtual scheme of learning only. Massive gatherings are suspended until further notice. Commercial activities have fully reactivated. Some corporations continue to allow their employees to work from home. Everyone is expected to use face masks when outside.
Ecuador:
193,673 positive cases and 13,501 deaths.
The country continues in the epidemiologic “traffic light” phase, which is controlled locally by city. This means, that each mayor/local authorities are now in control as of when each city will change the “traffic light” color for businesses, retail and travel. “Red” color means everything is still closed for the public; only food delivery and essential food markets are opened. Martial Law from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. is enforced. No public transportation. All boarders are to remain closed; hence airports are closed during this traffic light color (“Red”). Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closed, so no visas are being issued. “Orange/Yellow” color means businesses will split the workforce with only 50% of its capacity, and the rest is to remain to telework. Martial Law will extend from 6:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Transportation will renew only with 30% of its capacity. Retail will reopen with 30% of occupancy capacity. “Green” color means the workforce will return with 70% capacity known as the new normal way of social distancing. Car circulation will be defined with even or odd with the last number of the registration plates. Martial law will extend from 9:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. Businesses and retail can operate with an occupancy of 50%. Airports are reopening operation, still very few flights are being operated. Guayaquil and Quito are operating in yellow light. As per the decision of the National Emergency Operations Committee (COE), on the afternoon of Friday, August 14th, international travelers arriving in the country by air and presenting a negative PCR test will no longer have to perform mandatory preventive isolation. The test must have been carried out within 10 days before entering the country. Quick tests are not supported.
El Salvador:
39,130 positive cases and 1,120 deaths.
Borders reopened for commercial flights. Both at airports and land borders, any foreigner entering El Salvador is required to bring a PCR test not older than 72 hours.
Guatemala:
122,774 positive cases and 4,178 deaths.
Borders reopened on September 18th, 2020. Any foreigner entering Guatemala is required to bring a PCR test not older than 72 hours. All ongoing/incomplete immigration processes of foreigners that were left due to the virus spread are on hold. Until now, no prolongation for visitors visas due to the COVID-19 situation. Quarantine extended with a curfew from 04:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. The use of surgical masks is mandatory countrywide while in the streets. Government facilities are open and working attending limited numbers of users.
Guyana:
5,406 positive cases and 151 deaths.
Nationwide, persons are asked to confine their activities to the extent possible to their home and yard. Social activities are restricted to include hosting/attending/visiting: cinemas, private parties, sporting events, banquets, bars, spas, gyms, wake/vigils, or civic organization meetings. Water sports/recreational activities are not allowed on the rivers, beaches, swimming pools, and internal waters. Physical exercise is permitted in public spaces for 90 minutes/day, but only if the participants can maintain a physical distance of six feet from each other. Indoor religious services are authorized for up to 25% of the building capacity, with 45-minute intervals between each service for sanitation/cleaning. Aside from religious services, authorized gatherings must not exceed 10 people. Masks are required to be worn in all public spaces. Banks, grocery shops, gas stations, and various operations are permitted to remain open between 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Schools will be closed for face-to-face learning until further notice. The curfew is in effect nationwide from 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO) has been reopened for commercial flight starting October 13th. Please consult your travel agency for more information regarding conditions, destinations, and flights schedule.
Honduras:
108,253 positive cases and 2,918 deaths.
Borders reopened. 14-day Mandatory quarantine for residents arriving. All ongoing/incomplete immigration processes of foreigners that were left due to the virus spread are on hold.
Mexico:
1,153,543 positive cases and 105,940 deaths.
Since June 1st (compulsory preventive isolation ended), Mexico is in phase 3 of its reopening plan, where a traffic light system will determine the operation of the activities. “Red” indicates that only essential work activities will be allowed: including mining, construction, and transportation manufacturing. “Orange” means that it will increase the permitted non-essential activities, respecting public health and work measures. In “yellow” the activities will be expanded including those considered non-essential without restriction. Finally, when the traffic light is “green”, there will be no restrictions (in the region or the State). Public health and work measures will continue; Classes will resume, and essential and non-essential activities will operate.
· States in red light: Chihuahua.
· States in orange light: Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Ciudad de México, Durango, Colima, Estado de México, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Yucatán y Zacatecas..
· States in Yellow light: Chiapas, Guanajuato, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala y Veracruz.
· States in Green light: Campeche.
Airports and land borders are not closed, except for countries with closed borders, such as the United States, until further notice (tentative date: July 21st). Travelers are not required to quarantine upon entering the country; they are only subject to random health checks on international flights and cruises and must provide the following information upon arrival (click here):
• Explanation of where you have traveled or have been residing in the last six weeks
• Contact information, full name, phone, age
• Declare if you have been in contact with someone with the virus. If the answer is positive, they ask for more information about it.
• Seat number you had on the flight
The authorities warn that in case of not complying with the de-escalation plan according to the sanitary traffic light system, Mexico could return to confinement. Statistics such as state hospital occupation, number of infections and behavior of the epidemiological curve are taken into account to establish the color of the traffic light. All States are subject to revert to red or tighten sanitary measures, if necessary.
Destination services in the country are available, with specific security measures (healthy distance, sanitation of spaces, use of facemasks, etc.) and with limitations in terms of the number of people (2 clients maximum per service) and duration of meetings in person.
Panama:
165,806 positive cases and 3,079 deaths.
Gyms were reopened and users must be COVID-19 tested periodically.
People are allowed to go to the beaches and rivers from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Family groups of maximum 7 people and 4 meters between family groups.
As from October 12th, reopening of the following economic sector is allowed:
· Hotels and all lodging sites
· Recreational and Tourism
· Creative and cultural industries, music academies, art, and dance
· Libraries
· Swimming pools at 25% capacity
· Cinemas, theaters, museums, galleries at 50% capacity
· Casinos y national lottery
Remains curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. from Monday to Saturday. Total quarantine on Sundays has been eliminated. International flights reopened. Panamanians, residents, and foreign travelers must present negative antigen or PCR swab tests no later than 48 hours before the entrance. For those with no test, a quick one can be done at the port of entry (cost covered by the traveler). If the test is positive, a compulsory 7-day quarantine shall occur in a hospital/hotel, and if again the test is positive, it will be extended for 14 days.
National Parks and protected areas reopened. As from September 28th, it was allowed the reopening of retail trade, shopping centers, restaurants, professional services, administrative services, national aviation (local flights), the racetrack without public/spectators, from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It was also announced a new sanitary protocol to be mandatory for any national, foreigner or resident entering in Panama, effective from October 12th, as follows:
· Negative PCR test to be requested on entry, with no more than 48 hours of issuing. If shown, then no quarantine will be imposed.
· For those with no test, a quick one can be done at the airport (cost covered by the traveler). If positive, then a 7-day mandatory quarantine will be imposed to be spent in a hotel or hospital. After 7 days, a second test will take place. If also positive, then 7 extra days of quarantine will have to be completed.
As from September 21st, reopening of federative sports activities without public/spectators (football, baseball, basketball, etc.) is allowed.
As from September 14th, the mobility restriction by gender has been suppressed. Curfew remains from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. from Monday to Saturday, and total curfew on Sundays.
As from September 7th, it is authorized the reopening of some economic activities: construction industry and related sectors, and also the reopening of activities in Panama Pacifico, Colon free zone, and other free zones. Tailoring, dressmaking and shoe stores, car wash, private marinas, and sport fishing. Panamanians and residents must present the results of a PCR test made within 96 hours before entering Panama.
Paraguay:
82,424 positive cases and 1,756 deaths.
The international airport Silvio Pettirossi was reopened, as well as the frontiers with Brazil. Restrictions to enter Paraguay through the Intl Airport include:
· Travelers need to fill the health form within 24 hours before the trip (http://www.vigisalud.gov.py/dvcf);
· All travelers must show a negative COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours before the trip;
· Foreigners without Paraguayan residency (except Mercosur members) must have a proof of international health insurance;
· Tests are not required for people recovered from COVID-19 within 90 days before the trip;
· No quarantine is required unless they come with a positive COVID-19 result.
· People coming from areas of Brazil affected by yellow fever are required to show proof of vaccination.
Peru:
963,605 positive cases and 35,966 deaths.
The nighttime mandatory social immobilization (curfew) still in place from 12:00 p.m. to 04:00 a.m. Religious services may operate at 1/3 capacity, and beaches are open Monday through Thursday. Children are no longer restricted (including those under 12 years of age). However, parents/guardians must be aware of their activities and reinforce the practice of “physical and bodily distancing”. Adults and children should follow the social distancing guidelines. Meeting Restrictions: All social gatherings, including those held in homes and with family, are prohibited countrywide. Adults over 65-year old and high-risk individuals must remain in quarantine and cannot leave their residence, except those in a medical emergency, going to the grocery store, bank, or pharmacy. The wearing of facemasks in public places is mandatory, and social distancing measures must be respected.
Suriname:
5,312 positive cases and 117 deaths.
The local government has announced a two-week extension of the curfew, which will remain with the same scheme, from 10.00 p.m. to 5.00 a.m. Schools are allowed to open countrywide. The ban on gathering is valid for groups larger than 10 people and there will not be exemptions for parties, including house parties. Also, meetings for mourning, funerals and religious gatherings are permitted only if and insofar as no more than fifty people are present at the same time, while outdoor sports activities may take place normally, but contact sports are not allowed. International flights are allowed from the Netherlands only. Bars, night clubs, dance halls, discotheques and the like will remain closed, and restaurants and other commercial eateries may only open for take-out or delivery. The international Airport will be partially open for certain flights, and COVID-19 test will be asked on arrival. Passenger will be in quarantine for 10 days. Please consult your local travel agency for more information.
Trinidad & Tobago:
6,669 positive cases and 120 deaths.
Restaurants are now allowed to facilitate in-house dining at a 50% capacity with seating in groups of no more than 10. No alcohol allowed. Food courts at cinemas are permitted. Cinemas to operate at 50% capacity. Services at Places of Worship extended to 90 minutes. Caribbean Airlines to increase flights to Tobago. Sporting teams engaged in national and international competitions can now resume full activity. Minister of National Security announced that from November 15th, 2020, nationals entering Trinidad and Tobago will be required to provide a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before arrival. Please note nationals are still required to apply for an exemption. On arrival, nationals will be placed in State-supervised quarantine for seven days. They will be tested on the sixth day and released once this test is negative.
Venezuela:
102,394 positive cases and 897 deaths.
The local government has announced a general flexibilization and reopening of all business sectors during December. Airports are open for certain international and national commercial flights. International destinations are the Dominican Republic, Panama, Turkey, La Paz (Bolivia), Cuba, and Rusia. National flights allowed are only Margarita Island and Los Roques. The plan is to keep this until January/2021, when the “7+7” scheme will be reestablished.