Despite warnings from authorities, December saw a rise in passengers arriving on the island

Traveling to Puerto Rico remains a risk of COVID-19 infection under federal government parameters, which keep the island at alert level 4, the highest of the warnings to travelers.

“Travelers should avoid all travel to Puerto Rico. Traveling increases the risk of acquiring and transmitting COVID-19,” he said. warns the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the notification it issued on Dec. 2 and remains active.

However, in the last two weeks about 11,000 daily passengers have arrived in Puerto Rico, warned today José Reis, assistant general of the National Guard.

As part of the measures taken following the emergency of public health of the VOCID-19, 260 members of the National Guard are outstanding in the Airport the International Luis Muñoz Marin, of Green Island, for the screening protocol doctor to the travelers, assured Kings.

Also, he said, there are outstanding staff at Aguadilla and Ponce airports, for screening on cargo flight employees, as well as at Big Island Airport, for private flights. It is also screened, he said, on flights from Ceiba to Vieques and Culebra, as well as at the Ceiba speedboat terminal for boat trips to the municipality islands. In total, he noted, 1,500,000 medical screenings have been performed at these facilities.

Miriam Ramos Colom, epidemiologist in charge of the Epidemiological Surveillance System at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, warned that, under the current pattern of virus infections on the island, the removal of the alert is not anticipated. trip to the island, for now.

Meanwhile, he commented that during the pandemic, this year approximately 1,100,000 travelers have arrived on the island.

During Thanksgiving week, he said, there was an increase in the traffic of people entering the country, although in later days it fell again, to about 5,000 daily.

However, the epidemiologist commented that during the month of December an increase was noticed again, of approximately 9,000-11,000 daily travelers.

As of last week, this epidemiological system was monitoring 81,263 travelers.

According to Ramos Colom, 60% of travelers in the system answer the follow-up reports they do, mainly electronically or by telephone. Most who test positive for viruses, he said, are asymptomatic.

On the other hand, the official commented that ten people have been prevented from boarding a plane to be infected with this virus. In addition, six cases were identified in other jurisdictions that alerted travelers who were infected with the disease and should not travel.

“An increase in non-residents (traveling to the island) has been seen. Many get to spend time with relatives, “said Ramos Colom, noting that 60% of travelers identified as virus-positive report being at the home of convalescent relatives while visiting the island.

Ramos Colom stressed that, although the exhortation is not to make trips to the island, those who still travel must be tested for viruses (molecular or antigen) 72 hours before the trip to ensure they are negative.

According to Reis, this is one of three options for travelers. Also, he said, they can go to a local laboratory for molecular or antigen testing to certify if, in effect, the traveler is not infected. Otherwise, he indicated, the traveler should remain in home quarantine for 14 days.

Through the Sara Alert electronic system, Reis explained, a message will be sent to them daily until they present a negative virus test.

“We depend on the discipline of the people. We appeal to the conscience of the people,” he said.