President Iván Duque assured that after having dialogues with the World Health Organization, as of May 1st, the mandatory use of face masks in closed places will be withdrawn for municipalities that have more than 70% of their population vaccinated with complete vaccination schedules against covid-19 and with at least 40% of the population with anticovid booster doses.
The measure will not apply to health services, geriatric homes, public transportation and closed spaces of schools and educational institutions.
Likewise, Duque warned that as from May 1st, the vaccination card requirement will be dropped in public and private mass events. The measure will also cease to apply in places such as casinos, bars, gastrobars, museums, libraries and cinemas.
"All biosecurity measures will also be repealed, with the exception of those concerning health systems and services," Duque said, noting that the Prass strategy - with which the government used to carry out epidemiological surveillance - will no longer be implemented.
In its place, Duque noted, "collective surveillance will be consolidated and follow-ups will be carried out at the local level with the health authorities".
Regarding international travelers, Duque pointed out that "the recommendation is to arrive in the country with complete vaccination schedules". He added that those who do not have complete vaccination schedules or are not vaccinated will be asked to undergo a PCR test that does not exceed 72 hours and an antigen test that does not exceed 48 hours.
The President pointed out that as from May 1, the sanitary emergency will be extended in the national territory until June 30. He acknowledged the National Vaccination Plan against covid-19, since it has covered almost seven out of ten Colombians with two doses and at least eight out of ten with an anticovid dose.
The last time the extension of the sanitary emergency in the country was announced was last February, when a decree was issued to extend it until April 30.
The sanitary emergency is a key measure for the National Government and its ministries, since it allows them to expeditiously issue key regulations to face the coronavirus pandemic without the need to go through the debates in Congress.
