In response to a ruling against it, the national government, which on 31 December 2020 revived the PCR test requirement for travelers entering the country, is now trying to expand and make more flexible the options for this condition.
(Read: Tourism concern returns due to PCR test requirement)
And, after the Ministry of Health announced it last Monday on its Twitter account, this Wednesday was known Resolution 002, which states that those traveling to Colombia will have the option to take this test upon arrival in the country.
“We maintain our position that this decision is impossible to comply with, we ask the judge for clarifications and, on this basis, we issue the resolution according to which travelers are offered the opportunity to take the test here in the country”, said the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz.
It should be noted that the 1972 Resolution of 4 November 2020 repealed the requirement of the PCR test, imposed in September last year with the resumption of international flights. But once the document is issued on 31 December 2020, the restriction is activated again.
So with these new announcements, Airlines must allow passengers who verbally declare that they cannot take the test in another country to board.
However, It will be the passenger’s responsibility to inform at the time of immigration control on arrival, if he already has the negative result of a test performed 96 hours before or if the sample will be performed in the country.
If you take it to Colombia, it must be completed with a quarantine that will last at least the time the negative answer is issued.
And for this process, the direction in which preventive isolation will be maintained must also be clarified, because, as the health authority says, “These demonstrations will be recorded in the immigration system.”
The director of epidemiology and demography in Minsalud, Julián Fernández, explainedHowever, people can choose, as a second option, to start with a 14-day isolation in the destination city or in a hotel.
In addition, it indicates that, as has been done so far, all international travelers will be called by the National Contact Tracking Center upon entry into the country on the fifth day to monitor covid-19 compatible symptoms.
“All shall be incorporated into the PRASS in such a way that, when a symptomatic traveler is detected, a prescription is made for isolation, testing and contact tracking,” Fernandez added.
THE CONCEPT
As it is known, in November last year, a judge from the Bogota circuit accepted the tutelage of a lawyer in which the requirement of the PCR test was urged, reason for which the Government, at this moment, accepted the request.
However, The concept of the Ministry of Health has been maintained by the fact that this test is not effective as a measure to control the spread of covid-19 in those countries where there is community transmission.
The conclusion that, in addition, claims the health authority, this was confirmed by the Pan American Health Organization in a document dated October 9 last year, which does not recommend performing or requesting such tests before dispatch and entry into countries.