President Guillermo Lasso announced eight measures in Ecuador against the omicron variant of COVID-19

Faced with the advance of the omicron variant of the coronavirus in the world, on the night of November 29, President Guillermo Lasso announced the measures that the Ecuadorian government will implement to prevent the spread of the virus.

He assured that the situation is being constantly monitored. The decisions were adopted in coordination with the National Emergency Operations Committee (COE).

Measures

1. Entry ban for all travelers whose point of origin, stopover or transit are African countries: South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Eswatini, Mozambique and Egypt.
2. The Opening of the border with Colombia will be in phases. The first will be with the transport of goods, under biosecurity protocols, according to agreements of the transport ministries of the two countries.
3. To enter Ecuador, all people, nationals and foreigners, They must present their complete vaccination certificate, with at least 14 days of validity, as well as a PCR test of at least 72 hours of validity.
4. The children and adolescents between 2 and 16 years old, who enter the country, must present the negative result of the PCR test carried out up to 72 hours prior to shipment to Ecuador.
5. If among the travelers a suspicious case is found a real-time PCR test will be carried out. In case of being positive, 14 days of isolation must be carried out.
6. The Massive events must have a maximum capacity of 50%, complying with biosafety protocols.
7. For all public sector building the presentation of complete vaccination certificates. Lasso urged that the same be replicated in cinemas, theaters, bars, nightclubs, stadiums, shopping centers or the like.
8. The public transport may have up to 100% capacity, provided there is natural ventilation and the mandatory use of a mask is required.

Ecuadorian doctors recommend taking action against the expansion of the omicron variant in the world

President Lasso called on citizens living in the country to go the extra mile against the pandemic. He invited people to complete the vaccination schedule.

Mentioned that 70% of the population over 5 years of age is already vaccinated. “If you belong to the minority that has not yet been vaccinated, please do so now. We have enough vaccines for everyone, ”he said.

On the other hand, Lasso urged the Decentralized Autonomous Governments (GAD) to order that the capacity, in open and closed places with ventilation, is a maximum of 50%, and that social distancing is complied with.

Omicron: the symptoms of the new covid-19 variant, according to the doctor who discovered it in South Africa

He recalled that the mask use must be permanent in all cases, as well as frequent hand washing and surface disinfection. Lasso insisted that the evolution of the new variant be monitored daily. If necessary, he said, the required adjustments will be made. “The last month of the year is approaching, a month of a lot of movement, a month of meeting, but we all deserve to live in peace, “said the president. (I)