COVID-19 PCR testing will be requested for Colombians and foreigners arriving in the country given the circulation of new coronavirus lineages. The measure takes effect on April 7.
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection in the constant review of the scientific literature and the evidence that allows to know more and better and better the virus of Sars-CoV2, cause of COVID-19, has decided by act unify and update biosecurity measures on both domestic and international flights.
In this regard, Julià Alfredo Fernández Nen, director of Epidemiology and Demography, has indicated that Resolution 411 of 2021 unifies all biosecurity protocols on national and international flights. “Due to the pandemic, we had several events. administrative flights that were being upgraded and also two on international flights. We are now merging into one, with specific recommendations coming into force on April 7, 2021. “
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That said, in general most of the recommendations apply to any type of flight. “Some recommendations that are already obsolete or have little scientific evidence are updated, such as those related to the restrictions on aircraft entertainment systems, since if they are properly disinfected they do not pose a greater risk,” he explained. the official.
Additionally, blankets can be used, before or after disinfection. This is because there is little evidence of surface contagion. In other measures, recommendations are given for the safe opening of VIP lounges at airports and the temperature intake at the entrance to these air terminals is removed.
On the other hand, some recommendations are maintained such as keeping quiet while staying on the plane. Also, on flights of more than two hours in which people can eat, they must do so at intervals assigned by rows, to prevent all passengers from taking off their caps at the same time.
A very important recommendation, said Fernández, is that all people use surgical mouthpieces and, in the case of adults over 60, use N95s. “This given the emergence of new variants and contact with people from different backgrounds in enclosed spaces, which, despite the ventilation of the aircraft, forces us to take extreme measures.” This update highlights the continuity in the use of CoronApp on domestic flights and Check-Mig on international flights. “The reason we believe CoronApp is effective is because it now connects with the results of COVID-19 samples and reveals whether people have had a positive result in the last 14 days.” (You may be interested in: Does Coronapp work or not?)
That is why, said Fernández, the recommendation is reiterated to travelers who have had positive tests in the last 14 days, have been in contact with a suspected case of COVID-19 or have symptoms, will not be able to travel.
PCR test application for travelers
Given the emergence of new lineages of VOCID-19, including Brazilian, British, South African, among others, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has decided to request a PCR test with a negative result of mandatory for Colombians and foreigners residing in Colombia who wish to enter national territory by air. “With the emergence of three strains of public health interest and others under observation, a challenge is generated about the need to strengthen genomic surveillance. Therefore, the Ministry updates its recommendations based on the best available scientific evidence.” , the official explained.