[ad_1]
On November 23, and after eight months, Chile’s main air border was open again. The government, within the framework of the gradual deconfinement measures in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, allowed the entry of foreigners who arrive in the country through the Pudahuel airport.
Among the conditions that foreigners must meet to enter the national territory is that they must present a negative PCR test – no more than three days old – and comply with a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
When about two weeks have passed since the implementation of the measure, the last report of the National Strategy for Testing, Traceability and Isolation -which covers the week between November 28 and December 4-, he realized that in that period the new imported cases of Covid in the Metropolitan Region reached 70 infected. In the immediately preceding week, the figure had been five.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/copesa/QBIGHRVITJDYLEXLUCQFPYRVRQ.jpg)
Regarding the possible link between the increase in imported cases and the opening of the airport for the arrival of foreign citizens, the Undersecretary of Public Health, Paula Daza, indicated that “The fact that we have imported cases allows us, on the one hand, to say that we are finding those imported cases. A significant percentage of these imported cases are Chileans who have left and returned to our country. Chileans have always been able to leave and have been able to return freely and, in that sense, we have to assess the epidemiological situation of the health risk from travel ”.
Regarding whether the continuity of the opening of the air port will be subject to analysis, the minister of the portfolio, Enrique Paris, pointed out that “no measure is written in stone. If we notice that there is a sustained, progressive increase, we will sit down to meditate and analyze if it is necessary to make a change ”.
For the epidemiologist and member of the Covid-19 advisory council Maria Teresa Valenzuela, the increase in imported cases “It is a matter of concern” and what do you remember the way in which “the pandemic began in Chile, which was through cases that came from outside the country”. For this reason, Valenzuela asked to be more strict with the border control measures.
If that does not happen, this will become a high risk factor for our population. The fact that there is only one entry point, the Arturo Merino Benítez Airport, allows people to be controlled to come with a PCR made from outside that does not have more than 72 hours.
María Teresa Valenzuela, member of the Covid-19 advisory council
The expert also noted that the message to be communicated is that travel should only occur when it is “absolutely” necessary and indispensable.
The internist Juan Carlos said, meanwhile, he considered that the rise in imported cases has to do with the reactivation of the airport. “This increase may be related to greater openness at the borders. Although the borders are closed, the main airport in the country has been opened and that obviously implies a greater flow of people and a greater risk of contagion “Said said.
In the doctor’s opinion, control measures for those who arrive in Chile should be taken according to the levels of contagion in the country of origin.
