In response to a ruling against him, the national government that on December 31, 2020 to revive the requirement of the PCR test for travelers entering the country, is now trying to expand and make the possibilities of this condition more flexible.
(Read: Tourism industry concern returns due to PCR testing requirement)
And it is that after the Ministry of Health announced on its Twitter account last Monday, Resolution 002 finally became known this Wednesday, which establishes that those traveling to Colombia have the option to take this test upon arrival on land.
“We maintain our position that this ruling is impossible to comply with, we ask the judge for clarification and on that basis we issue the resolution allowing travelers to take the test here in the country”, said Health Minister Fernando Ruiz.
It should be noted that resolution 1972 of November 4, 2020 overturned the requirement of the PCR test, imposed last September, after international flights were restarted. But with the release of the document on December 31, 2020, the restriction will be re-enabled.
So with these new announcements, Airlines must allow travelers who verbally declare that they cannot take the test in another country to board the flight.
However, It is the responsibility of the passenger to inquire during the immigration check upon arrival if he already has the negative result of a test performed 96 hours earlier, or if the sample will be taken in the country.
In the case of capture in Colombia, it is imperative that this is supplemented by a quarantine that takes at least the time in which the negative answer is issued.
And for this process it must also be made clear in which direction the preventive isolation will be held, since, as the health authority says, “These demonstrations will be incorporated into the immigration system.”
Minsalud’s director of epidemiology and demographics, Julián Fernández, explainedHowever, as a second option, people can also choose to start with a 14-day isolation in their destination city or in a hotel.
In addition, it indicates that, as has been done so far, all international travelers will be called by the National Tracking Contact Center upon entry into the country and on the fifth day to check for symptoms compatible with Covid-19.
“Everything will be included in the PRASS in such a way that when a traveler is detected with symptoms, the prescription for isolation, administration of tests and contact tracing is made” Fernandez added.
THE CONCEPT
As is well known, a judge from the Bogotá circuit accepted custody of a lawyer in November last year insisting on the requirement of the PCR test, and therefore the government accepted the request on this point.
However, The Department of Health concept has been maintained in the sense that this test is not efficient as a measure to control the spread of covid-19 in those countries where there is community transmission.
Conclusion that moreover argues the health authority, it was confirmed by the Pan American Health Organization in a document dated October 9 of last year, which does not recommend or mandate these types of tests prior to shipment and entry into the countries.