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While the country is going through the coronavirus pandemic, some photos are circulating on social networks that show crowds in the corridors of El Dorado airport, due to the arrival of travelers at this air terminal.
(Can read: International flights: what happens if you arrive in the country without proof of covid)In the photographs, people are observed in the corridors without social distancing, not complying with biosafety protocols.
People in the corridors of the El Dorado airport, before arriving at the Immigration area.
Twitter: @ julioalvarado02
The congestion, which would have occurred on October 17, is due to the fact that apparently they authorized the arrival of four international flights in around 14 minutes, from Madrid, Washington, Miami and Lima, in which 722 passengers arrived, plus the crews. In addition, since the Migration areas only work at 30% of capacity, passengers had to wait before that area, causing congestion.
This goes against what is established in the biosafety protocols for the opening of international flights.
Resolution 1627 of the Ministry of Health, which stipulates biosecurity protocols, warns, among the measures for airport operators, that they must “Ensure that only passengers from up to two flights remain simultaneously in the migration areas, baggage reception bands and customs.”
EL TIEMPO tried to communicate with the Civil Aeronautics on this matter but did not receive any response at the moment.
(Further: In which seat of the plane is there the highest risk of contracting covid-19?)
According to figures from Migración Colombia, from October 1 to October 17, more than 39 thousand travelers entered the national territory, of which about 16 thousand have done so for tourism.
Of the total number of passengers that have arrived since the reactivation of international flights, about 20,000 have entered through El Dorado, a little more than 9,000 through José María Córdova and more than 4,000 through Bonilla Aragón de Cali, according to figures from the same entity.
Regarding Colombians, during the month of October, about 25 thousand arrived, of which 25% came without a PCR test, which is equivalent to a little more than 6 thousand people, according to data from the Colombian authorities.
Government warned of PCR test requirement
EL TIEMPO learned that the Government socialized, through emails, the use of the Check-Mig platform and the requirement of the Ministry of Health that passengers have the negative PCR test, issued a maximum 96 hours before boarding, with the Iata – International Air Transport Association – and these requirements were assembled by them in their Timatic application.
(We suggest: International flights: countries that require Colombians to test covid)
This application is used by airlines and travel agencies to verify the travel document requirements of passengers for their destination and any transit point. Airlines use various Timatic solutions to ensure their customers comply with border control rules and regulations. Timatic delivers personalized information based on the passenger’s destination, transit points, nationality, travel document, country of residence, among others.
In the emails, which date from September, between Migración Colombia and this application, it was clarified that the PCR test with a negative result issued at most 96 hours before shipment is mandatory to enter the national territory.
This occurred days before the International Air Transport Association asked the National Government to clarify who should be required to test for covid-19 with a negative result, since, according to them, there are “contradictions between the standards issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and the UAE of Migration Colombia, through Resolutions 1627 of September 15, 2020 and 2232 of September 17, 2020, which are contained in the protocols for international travel “.
(Can read: Confusion by covid-19 tests to Colombians arriving in the country)
As of October 17, 249 foreigners have been inadmitted in the country for not meeting the established requirements.
LUISA MERCADO
POLITICAL WRITING
Instagram: @ luisamercado1
Twitter: @LuisaMercadoD
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