COVID-19 PCR test will be requested for Colombians and foreigners arriving in the country, given the circulation of new lines of the coronavirus. The measure will enter into force on April 7.
The Department of Health and Social Protection, in the ongoing review of the scientific literature and the evidence that allows us to know more and better about the Sars-CoV2 virus, which causes COVID-19, has decided through an administrative act to remove the unify and update biosafety. measures on both national and international flights.
In this regard, Julián Alfredo Fernández Niño, Director of Epidemiology and Demography, indicated that Resolution 411 of 2021 unites all biosafety protocols on national and international flights ”. Due to the pandemic, we had several administrative operations on domestic flights that were updated and also two on international flights. We are now merging into one, with specific recommendations effective April 7, 2021. “
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That said, most recommendations generally apply to any type of flight. “Some recommendations that are already outdated or have little scientific evidence are being updated, such as those related to restrictions on aircraft entertainment systems, because if properly disinfected, they do not pose a greater risk,” the official explains.
In addition, blankets can be used, before or after disinfection. This is because there is little evidence of contamination from surfaces. In other measures, recommendations are made for the safe opening of VIP lounges at airports and the temperature measurement at the entrance of these air terminals is withdrawn.
On the other hand, some recommendations are maintained, such as remain silent while on the plane. Likewise, on flights of more than two hours in which people can eat, they should do so at intervals allocated by queues to prevent all travelers from removing their masks at the same time.
A very important recommendation – said Fernández – is that all people wear surgical masks and in the case of adults over 60, wear N95s. “This in view of the emergence of the new variants and the contact with people of different origins in closed spaces, which, despite the ventilation of the aircraft, forces us to take extreme measures”. This update emphasizes the continuity in the use of CoronApp on domestic flights and Check-Mig on international flights. “The reason we believe CoronApp is effective is because it now connects to COVID-19 sample results and shows whether people have tested positive in the past 14 days.” (You may be interested: does the Coron app work or not?)
For this reason, Fernández said, the recommendation is repeated to travelers who have had positive tests in the past 14 days, have been in contact with a suspected case of COVID-19 or have symptoms, they will not be able to travel.
Request PCR test for travelers
Given the appearance of new descendants of COVID-19, including the Brazilian, British and South African, the Department of Health and Social Protection has issued a mandatory PCR test with a negative result of Colombians and foreigners living in Colombia and that want to enter the national territory by air. “With the emergence of three strains of public health interest and others under observation, a challenge arises regarding the need to strengthen genomic surveillance. Therefore, the ministry is updating its recommendations based on the best available scientific evidence, ”the official explained.