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The designated Minister of Health, Carlos Mellado, Monday lamented the recent violent incidents involving tourists in San Juan and Carolina while we made sure of it The agency will continue to ensure that visitors present a negative molecular test for the virus upon arrival in Puerto Rico and that they remain in quarantine if necessary.
He acknowledged that the Condado’s tourist area in the capital is out of control, so he said Salud had to shut down businesses and pay fines outside of the executive’s control over the virus.
“This weekend there was a lot of activity involving the health department with 25 outlets that are already repeat offenders and shut them down and even arrest them for breaking the rules.”, he assured.
One of the companies fined in the County was Julius Restaurant, formerly Latin Star, for allegedly allowing the entry of people without masks and crowding out customers.
“This weekend we intervened in La Perla and the two people we arrested were from the United States and signed up saying they were going to do a PCR and they didn’t. However, they were in La Perla and La Placita without masks on Friday and that’s what we’ll verify over the weekend “, he indicated.
To that effect, the Justice Department reported that it had filed charges last night against three tourists who were caught in La Perla while being quarantined. One of the defendants was arrested and is facing $ 10,000 bail. The other two visitors were reported in absentia and received $ 25,000 bail, respectively.
“The rule in Puerto Rico is: take off your mask, take your distance and get tested when you come. We control the cases and people who come out of there with the virus and help us control the cases “, he pointed. “We’re not going to let them come from outside to break the rules. And the rule is that: the rule is that if you do not bring negative proof, you have to be in the hotel for 14 days, you are not allowed to stand on the street and we will continue with that ”.
Meanwhile, he recognized the work of the agency’s inspectors, who he says are dealing with aggressive people who “insult them and try to attack them” during the interventions.
Mellado will participate in a meeting with police personnel today to prepare the authorities’ plan to address violations of the law by tourists.