The Government estimates that more than a million people will travel on holidays to say goodbye to 2022

Two days before the last holiday of 2022, government authorities announced this Thursday, December 29, which control operations will be applied.

The holiday begins this Saturday, December 31, and will last until Monday, January 2, which corresponds to New Year’s Eve and New Year.

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Authorities from ECU911, from the Ministries of the Interior, Tourism, Transport and the National Transit Agency (ANT) participated in a press conference.

The Minister of the Interior and president of the national Emergency Operations Committee (COE), Juan Zapata, said that the Ministry of Health has not requested that this body meet, so the resolutions of December 7 are in force.

These resolutions include the mandatory use of a mask in poorly ventilated places and where distancing cannot be maintained, such as in workplaces, public transport and classrooms.

In addition, the mask must be used in hospitals, health centers and laboratories; It should also be used by those who suffer from respiratory symptoms.

The COE recommended the use of face masks in open spaces where there are massive events and crowds where physical distancing cannot be maintained; also, hand washing, use of gel alcohol and distancing.

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The operation will begin on Friday, December 30 and will end on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, with 24,072 police officers.

Regarding the state of the roads, 1,210 kilometers (11.76%) are in very good condition; 4,361 km (42.39%), in good condition; 2,926 km (28.44%), in fair condition; and in 1,791 km (17.41%) you have to drive with caution, this in some areas of the provinces of Esmeraldas, Imbabura, Napo, Azuay, Manabí, El Oro, Loja and Zamora Chinchipe.

There will be 7,437 video surveillance cameras nationwide and 455 cameras on some 40 beaches.

While the ANT indicated that there will be rigorous controls in land terminals, tolls, highways and cities. A call was made not to drive at excessive speed, since on the Christmas holiday there was an increase of 168% in this regard. In addition, vehicles must carry identification plates.

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Zapata stated that there will be free mobility throughout the country, no type of activities will be affected and there will be no capacity restrictions or bans on events.

It is considered that there will be high mobility, so it is estimated that more than one million people will travel around the country.

Silvana Ramírez, Vice Minister of Tourism, assured that on the 2022 holidays, from Carnival to Christmas, there was an economic movement of about $421 million.

This, he added, exceeds what was achieved in 2019, which was around $303 million.

Only at Christmas 2022 there was about $32 million in tourist spending. (YO)