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The Ministry of Health released, on the night of Wednesday, November 4, resolution 1972 of 2020, which updates the biosafety protocol for the management and control of the risk of coronavirus in air transport and, incidentally, eliminates the requirement of a negative PCR test 96 hours in advance for passengers entering the country.
This had been one of the requirements established in the midst of the reactivation of international flights, which took place on September 19.
However, the update of the protocol cancels the request for that document and leaves it as the only requirements to board the flight not present fever or respiratory symptoms associated with covid-19 and fill out the forms arranged in the Check-Mig application.
“For their part, airlines must inform their passengers that when they arrive in Colombia they will be monitored by your insurer, health secretariats or through the National Tracking Contact Center (Ccnr). ANDThese entities, as well as airport operators, are committed to reminding their travelers that the use of a mask is mandatory for everyone over two years of age during the entire flight, ”the Ministry indicated.
(Also read: Alert for coronavirus strain that animals and humans would share).
The announcement caused a stir. The mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López reacted by stating: “When the airport was reopened, the Ministry of Health undertook to track and epidemiological siege of passengers. He never delivered! Now it also removes the obligation of the PCR, which they do require of Colombians when they travel. What part of ‘we have to take care of ourselves’ have we not understood? ”.
The Secretary of Health of Bogotá, Alejandro Gómez, said on Caracol Radio: “We believe that the care measures should remain. We are surprised that this measure is lifted. We think that the gold standard is CRP. Removing it is not judicious at this time . All the mechanisms that we take to prevent an increase in cases must be taken. “
In resolution 1972 the portfolio explains the reasons for the decision. First, it states that the World Health Organization (WHO) in the document “Resumption of non-essential international travel in the context of the pandemic: guidance on the use of tests” ensures that the request for these results “It is not efficient as a control measure in countries with community transmission” and therefore does not recommend this pre-shipment requirement.
According to Migración Colombia, every day, on average, 3,000 people enter the country by air.
In this document the WHO writes: “This recommendation is made in view of the effectiveness of the technology currently available for testing and the biological and epidemiological challenges, as well as the legal, operational and resource constraints.”
The Ministry also argues that a negative result “It does not generate certainty that the traveler is not incubating the virus.”
(You may be interested: 80% of Colombians fear that the pandemic will not be controlled).
“At the current time of the epidemic in Colombia, it is the same to come from Madrid (Cundinamarca) than from Madrid (Spain). The key is that people who travel comply with biosecurity measures, do not travel sick and if they have symptoms they are isolated and reported, “said Carlos Álvarez, infectologist and national coordinator of covid-19 studies for the WHO.
In any case, the Ministry affirms that in the absence of proof as a requirement the health status of international travelers will be monitored through the CCNR during the 14 days following arrival.
According to Migración Colombia, every day, on average, 3,000 people enter the country by air. In October, there were 97,696, including crews, of which 66 percent were Colombian citizens.
The Vice Minister of Health, Luis Alexander Moscoso, said in an interview with BLU Radio that the CCNR currently has cwith 30 workers in charge of monitoring these travelers and all confirmed and suspected cases that are produced in the country.
(See: Colombia, on the way to meet death forecasts this year from covid)
He added about the tests: “Fewer and less countries are asking for these PCR tests to enter. The United States and most of Latin America, for example, no longer impose it as a requirement ”.
And he concluded: “We have to be clear that the important thing here is not the tests but the disease and to the extent that we can follow up on confirmed and suspected cases we will be able to really mitigate the impact of covid-19.”
HEALTH UNIT
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