President Duque extends mandatory isolation until May 25

There are new economic sectors, such as the sale of motor vehicles, furniture and commercial establishments, to which the restrictions will be lifted from May 11 onwards, in compliance with strict protocols.

How did it happen ad-portas that the deadline that in principle President Iván Duque set for preventive isolation is reached, this Tuesday, for the third time, extends that period so that Colombians can take to the streets again and resume their work in person.

For another 15 additional days, that is, until 11:59 on May 25, citizens must remain at home, this being the main measure to mitigate the spread of the new coronavirus.

As happened in the announcement of the last extension, for this third quarantine phase, the restrictions for other economic sectors will also be lifted as of May 11. Companies related to: furniture, mattresses, bedsteads, motor vehicles, trailers, computer products, electronics, optics, machinery will be allowed to leave the manufacturing sector. Maintenance: repair of motor vehicles, and technology and computer equipment. Wholesale trade: vehicles, spare parts and pieces, furniture, household goods and clothing, machinery. Retail trade: vehicles, spare parts and parts; pet products; fuels and lubricants; stationeries and bookstores. As well as home laundry and activities related to maintenance.

For more detail: These are the 11 economic activities that can be reactivated next Monday.

“We started from May 11 a new process of gradualness in the start of productive activities in the country. The fundamental principle is to take care of the lives of Colombians and contribute to income and protect companies. It does not mean that from 11 they can start , they have to comply with biosafety protocols to be issued by the Ministry of Health (…) the mayors will have the key to gradualness, “said the Minister of Commerce, José Manuel Restrepo.

Regarding the measures, Oliverio García, president of the National Association for Sustainable Mobility (Andemos), said that “we very much welcome the news of the opening of the vehicle trade, since online vehicle registration is already enabled. It is going to allow the disbursement of approved loans for $ 415,000 million, associated with about 8,600 vehicles that were pending delivery in March sales and that would give a big break in the box of dealers to be able to sustain employment and pay obligations.

For his part, Camilo Rodríguez, president of the Colombian Chamber of Clothing and Related Industries, stated that “we are concerned about President Duque’s announcement because we see that there is still no solution to open trade for the textile sector. It only says that wholesale, but it must be taken into account that retail is where a large part of sales in the textile sector is. We go back to the beginning: there is no point in producing if we do not have where to market and who to sell to because people continue to lose jobs and purchasing power decreases every time. ”

In this new stage, the municipalities free of COVID-19 cases will enter in a way to reactivate the productive life, yes, preventing the entry and exit of people different from those responsible for the food supply. There are around 880 localities that will begin this process that house some 15 million people.

Also those municipalities that lift the preventive isolation, may not allow the opening of bars and clubs. Restaurants will be opened only for food delivery or delivery. “With the mayors and governors, it will be defined how the municipalities will be protected so that the interior has a productive life,” said Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez.

Read more: Live: Colombia reports 604 new cases of coronavirus.

Gina Tambini, representative of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), stated that these adjustment measures for the reopening of economic activity, it is necessary to strictly comply with the measures that are imposed. If not, “when identifying people or geographic areas with infection, preventive isolation will have to be reinstated.”

Another survey that is done is the possibility for minors between the ages of 6 and 14 to go out three times a week for half an hour in the company of a responsible adult, who is not within the population over the age of 70 or who have pre-existing.

Thus, national and international air transport, as well as inter-municipal land transport will continue to be closed until May 30. Public transport can only operate at 35% of its capacity. Adults over 70 years old, as well as people with pre-existing conditions, must remain in their homes until the end of this month. Nursery schools, colleges and universities will also continue to be closed until that date.