Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi today announced an amendment that includes new changes to the current executive order to address the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming to have accepted the Scientific Coalition’s recommendations.
The changes to the Executive Order will take effect this Saturday, April 17, 2021, and will be effective until May 9, 2021.
Executive Order 2021-027 maintains curfew hours from 10 PM to 5 AM and the closure of commercial establishments and restaurants at 9 PM Excluded from the curfew are people attending emergency or health situations, including those administering vaccines, those who come at any time to be vaccinated against COVID 19, and those accompanying a person to be vaccinated, among others.
In addition, it established a greater restriction on occupancy in shops and restaurants.
Private operations serving the public in closed institutions may only operate with a maximum capacity of 30 percent.This applies to restaurants, retail, medical offices, funeral services, recreation, sports, horseback riding, film, financial, community, consumer services, professional, non-professional, college and post-secondary, care centers, religious, government agencies, among other analogues.
In the case of restaurants, the minimum required distance of 1.8 meters between tables must be guaranteed. While the closed malls limit their capacity to one person per 75 square feet in the aisles. With regard to private activities, such as administrative offices that do not serve the public, they must also operate with a capacity of 30 percent or guarantee the minimum physical distance of two meters between employees.
On the other hand, Government agencies in Puerto Rico will continue to plan work and provide services, taking into account the measures to prevent the spread of COVID and to guarantee the distance between employees of at least 1.8 meters. Remote work continues to be considered a viable option, as determined by the head of each agency.
Mass activities without a waiver from the Interior Ministry are strictly prohibited., which may require participants to have a negative result for COVID-19 from a qualified SARS-Cov2 viral test and antigen tests performed 72 hours in advance.
Likewise Crowding on beaches, rivers, spas, marinas, swimming pools and other bodies of water is not permitted, the opening of colosseums, discotheques, activity centers or bars. It is forbidden to glue or tie several boats together around the marinas, as is the anchorage on beaches, keys and islets less than 60 meters from the coast.
“In recent days we have seen a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, so, as I have indicated, we are strengthening the integrated strategy against the pandemic. Vaccination remains key to ending this virus hitting us and the Department of Health is continuing the vaccination process without a break, affecting all sectors of Puerto Rico. In fact, as determined by the Coalition, the number of deaths from cases has decreased by half since the start of the vaccination and at least 300 lives have been saved “, the governor said.
The Managing Director added that the Minister of Health, Carlos Mellado, has already signed agreements with the laboratories of several universities to which the reagents will be supplied and they will carry out the genomic sequence studies of the cases of variants of the COVID-19 virus. In addition, island-wide tests are being ramped up, both antigen and molecular. Likewise, the number of agents in support of the Department of Health investigation unit overseeing compliance with the new Executive Order is doubling. In addition, police presence through public places will also continue to ensure compliance with the greater restrictions order. On the other hand, educational campaigns are expanding.
“We continue to seek the cooperation of everyone so that they take preventive and precautionary measures such as avoiding crowds, wearing a mask, taking physical distance and washing hands. The government is doing its best to have an integrated strategy against this virus, but we need everyone to do their part and not be on their guard, ”said the governor.
Pierluisi urged all private institutions to register with the Municipal Health Research and Contact Tracing System (SMRIC) so that the government has more accurate data on case tracing. Likewise, every institution must comply with the protocols of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (PROSHA, for the acronym in English).
As for vaccination, reports from the federal government show that up to yesterday 1,858,586 vaccines had been administered, of which 1,204,2259 corresponded to the first dose and 648,894 with completed doses.
The governor added that the requirement for molecular testing to reach Puerto Rico will be strengthened. All passengers arriving on the island through Luis Muñoz Marín (Carolina), Mercedita (Ponce) and Rafael Hernández (Aguadilla) international airports from the United States or any other destination must submit a molecular test to the relevant authorities, also known as PCR. Done 72 hours prior to arrival in Puerto Rico. If they fail to submit the negative result of that test, they will have 48 hours to complete it or will be fined as the voluntary quarantine option will be eliminated. The details of this measure will be laid down in an administrative decision on which the Ministry of Health will work.
Finally, the governor urged the Puerto Rico Senate to complete the confirmation process for the Secretary of Health, Carlos Mellado. “In the historic moment in which Puerto Rico finds itself, in which we are facing a pandemic, it is unthinkable that Secretary Carlos Mellado, who has proven to be a professional of the first order and who has an indisputable commitment to the health of Puerto Rico , has not been confirmed at this time. It is time for the Senate to act on the appointment of Secretary Mellado, the people’s physician, ”said the governor who reiterated that these changes to the order could also be changed at any time, depending on the statistics related to the pandemic.
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