SANTIAGO – The government announced that borders reopen on July 26. This measure only applies to people with mobility passes and residents entering the country. Over 200 municipalities have moved forward in the Paso a Paso plan over the past few weeks.
With the steady decrease in COVID-19 cases over the past few weeks, and with over 13 million people inoculated with at least one dose of the vaccine, changes are being made to the confinement protocols. Modifications are also being made to the Protected Borders Plan, which regulates movement in and out of the country to stop the spread of COVID-19.
On July 26, borders reopen and Chileans and residents who have the Mobility Pass – people who have completed their vaccination process and waited 14 days after their second dose – will be able to leave the country, but only through Arturo Merino Benitez Santiago Airport in Santiago. Minors with no mobility pass are not included in this measure, and people from other countries who are not residents still cannot enter the country.
The government also announced other changes. At least 210 municipalities are currently in phase 3 of the Paso a Paso Plan, one of the least restrictive steps and the forerunner to phase 4, which is essentially no confinement at all. Among those now in phase 3 are the entire Metropolitan Region, Ovalle, El Quisco, Navidad, San Clemente, Coyhaique, and Aysén.
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What is allowed in phase 3?
In phase 3, there are no restrictions on moving around one’s municipality, or going to another in phase 3. For inter-regional traveling, only the C-19 passport is needed, which confirms that the bearer isn’t currently infected with COVID-19.
Schools can also reopen, but in-person attendance is optional.
Social gatherings at home are limit to 20 people, if they all have their mobility passes. If someone doesn’t have it, the limit drops to 10.
Restaurants, gyms, and casinos can open, but only customers with mobility passes can attend in closed spaces, and with social distance. Customers without mobility passes can only attend in open spaces, and also with social distancing.
As for social activities with no interaction between the participants, such as movie theaters, concerts, stadiums, and more: the capacity is one person per eight square meters, with a limit of 100 people with no mobility pass, and 500 with mobility pass, in closed spaces.
In open spaces, the limit is 200 people with no pass, and 1,000 people with a pass. Social distancing and masks still apply.
As of July 23, 1,656 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed, 9,970 cases remain active, and the national positivity rate stands at 2.65 percent.
Javiera is from Santiago de Chile, she is studying journalism at Universidad de Chile, since 2017 and doing her internship at Chile Today.