Governor Pedro R. Pierluisi today announced an amendment with new changes to the current Executive Order to address the pandemic for COVID-19, in which he said he had accepted recommendations from the Scientific Coalition.
The changes to the Executive Order will enter into force this Saturday, April 17, 2021 and will be in force until May 9, 2021.
The Executive Order 2021-027 maintains the curfew schedule from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am and the closure of shops and restaurants at 9:00 pm People who are attending to emergency or health situations, including those who administer vaccines, those who are going to be vaccinated against COVID 19 at any time and those accompanying a person to be vaccinated, are excluded from the curfew. others.
In addition, it established a greater restriction regarding employment in shops and restaurants.
Private operations that cater to the public in closed-end establishments will only be able to operate with a maximum capacity of 30 percent.. This applies to restaurants, sales businesses, medical offices, funeral services, recreation, sports, equestrian, film, financial, community, consumer services, professional, non-professional, college and post-secondary, care centers, religious, agencies of government, among other analogues.
In the case of restaurants, the required minimum spacing of six feet between tables must be guaranteed. While closed-format malls will limit their capacity at the rate of one person for every 75 square feet in the hallways. As for private operations such as administrative offices that do not serve the public, they will also have to operate at 30 percent capacity or ensuring a minimum of six-foot physical distance between employees.
On the other hand, the Puerto Rican government agencies will continue with their work plans and providing services, Observing measures to prevent COVID infection and ensuring a distance of at least six feet between employees. Remote work will continue to be considered a viable option, as determined by each head of agency.
Crowded activities in which there is no dispensation from the Secretary of the Interior are still strictly prohibited., Which may require that participants have a negative result of COVID-19 from a qualified viral test of SARS-Cov2 and antigen tests performed 72 hours in advance.
In the same way, agglomeration on beaches, rivers, spas, marinas, swimming pools and other bodies of water is not allowed, The opening of coliseums, nightclubs, activity centers or bars. Around the marinas, it is forbidden to attach or moor several boats to each other, as well as the anchorage on beaches, keys and islets less than 200 feet from the shore.
“In recent days we have seen a rise in COVID-19 infections so, as I indicated, we are strengthening the integrated strategy against the pandemic. Vaccination remains key to ending this virus that affects us and the Department of Health continues the process of uninterrupted vaccination, impacting all sectors of Puerto Rico.In fact, according to the Coalition, deaths from cases have halved since vaccination began and have been saved at least 300 lives “, expressed the governor.
The chief executive added that the secretary of health, Carlos Mellado, Has already established agreements with the laboratories of several universities, to which the reagents will be provided and they will make the genomic sequence studies of the cases of virus variants of COVID-19. In addition, island-wide testing, both antigen and molecular, is on the rise. The number of agents is also doubling to support the Research Unit of the Department of Health, which monitors compliance with the new Executive Order. In addition, the police presence through public places will also continue to ensure compliance with the Order, which establishes more restrictions. On the other hand, educational campaigns are expanding.
“We continue to call on everyone’s cooperation to maintain preventive and precautionary measures such as avoiding congestion, mask use, physical distancing and hand washing. The government is doing its part to have an integrated strategy against this virus,” but we need everyone to do their part and not lower their guard, ”the governor noted.
Pierluisi urged all private establishments to register with the Municipal Health Investigation and Contact Tracking System (SMRIC) so that the government has more accurate data on case tracking. Similarly, all establishments must comply with the protocols of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (PROSHA, for its acronym in English).
With regard to vaccination, federal government reports state that until yesterday, 1,858,586 vaccines had been administered, of which 1,204,2259 corresponded to the first dose and 648,894 with completed doses.
The governor added that the requirement for molecular testing to reach Puerto Rico will be strengthened. Any passenger arriving on the island through the international airports Luis Muñoz Marín (Carolina), Mercedita (Ponce) and Rafael Hernández (Aguadilla) from the United States or another destination to present to the relevant authorities a molecular test also known as PCR which must be performed 72 hours before arriving in Puerto Rico. If they do not get the negative result of the test, they will have 48 hours to do it or they will be fined, as the option of voluntary quarantine will be eliminated. The details of this measure will be set out in an administrative order will work the Department of Health.
Finally, the governor urged the Puerto Rico Senate to conclude the confirmation process of Secretary of Health Carlos Mellado. “At the historic moment in which Puerto Rico is facing a pandemic, it is inconceivable that Secretary Carlos Mellado, who has proven to be a first-rate professional and has an unquestionable commitment to the health of Puerto Rico, it has not been confirmed at this time. It is time for the Senate to act with the appointment of Secretary Mellado, the village doctor, “the governor said, reiterating that these changes to the order could also be amended at any time. depending on the statistics regarding the pandemic.
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