Colombia announces new measures to combat COVID-19

After an Easter Week with slightly flexible restrictions, where Colombians were able to move around the country to see their families and enjoy this week of holidays, the National Government announced new measures to face what could be the third wave in the South American country. The Colombian president announced that these measures will be applied from Monday 5 April until the 19th of this month. "We are clear that the epidemiological situation in the country has increased in some municipalities in recent weeks; likewise, there is a risk of a new national increase in the coming weeks. Therefore, we must act, prevent and take timely decisions," said the president. 

What are the new measures announced?, "pico y cédula" measures will be applied, meaning that depending on the number of your national identity card (D.N.I.), you will be allowed to do certain activities depending on the day of the week. In those cities where the occupancy rate in intensive care beds (ICUs) is between 50% and 69%, the population will be able to move according to the order of the pico y cédula, and there will be a curfew between 00:00 am and 5:00 am. In communities with a cumulative ICU occupancy of 70% to 79%, the population will have to maintain the order of mobility according to the pico y cédula, and will have a curfew starting shortly before 22:00 hours until 5:00 hours in the morning. In those communities where the occupancy in the ICUs is between 80% and 85%, the curfew will be brought forward to 20:00 hours until 5:00 am, and the population will be able to move as established by pico y cédula. Finally, those communities that register an occupancy of more than 85% will begin the curfew from 18:00 hours until 5:00 in the morning. 

On Saturday 3 April, Colombia registered 55,547 positive cases, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection. So far in the pandemic, the coffee-growing country has registered 63,932 deaths and more than 2.4 million infections. "We are concerned to see that several European countries are registering more than 30,000 or 40,000 cases in a single day. And we also see with concern that several Latin American countries have seen how their health system response capacity has been exacerbated," said Duque. He believes that the numbers are rising rapidly and therefore coordinated action must be sought between state institutions and epidemiological experts. The regions most affected in terms of the ratio of cases to deaths are Bogotá, Manizales, Armenia, Tunja, Barranquilla, Montería, Leticia and Pereira, and the cities that currently have the most attention from the government due to the increase in cases and occupancy in the ICUs are Medellín, Cali, Santa Marta and Barranquilla.

What are the prohibited activities? In the official central government statement, regional governments and mayors' offices are urged to cancel public events, any type of demonstration that involves a crowd of people, and also not to allow the opening of discotheques or places where alcoholic beverages can be consumed in public spaces and commercial establishments. The Executive ordered the prohibition of any type of celebration, the avoidance of meetings between people who do not live together and the holding of parties. In those municipalities that register an occupancy of more than 70% of the ICUs, they will be able to regulate the number of people, reducing the capacity of public places such as beaches, boardwalks, squares and parks, in those public areas where biosecurity norms and protocols are not being complied with. 

"The likelihood of infection exists and we must continue to protect them. The greatest protection from the vaccine is achieved about two weeks after the second dose," said the president. Colombia began vaccination at the end of February, the plan is structured to immunise 35 million people by the end of the year. The government expects to have almost 90 per cent of the population over 80 years of age vaccinated by mid-April. 

Latin America Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra.