The Ministry of Health announced changes to the Protected Borders Plan. Starting Thursday April 14 the requirement for a PCR test will be eliminated as a requirement to enter Chile from abroad.
Nor will it be necessary to be vaccinated to enter the country. However, it will be necessary to do the homologation to obtain the Mobility Pass to enter restaurants, concerts and other venues that require to be vaccinated.
“Only at level 1 is the homologation of vaccines voluntary and not necessary to enter the country. What is very clear is that the Mobility Pass is required for any person, residents or foreigners. So, although the approval is voluntary, there is a recommendation to do it, ”explained the Undersecretary of Public Health, Carlos Cuadrado.
The undersecretary stressed that these measures apply to Alert Level 1, a situation in which he will be in Chile. in which there is community transmission of known and controlled variants within the country, there is more information on their characteristics and health impact, and there is no alert for a new variant of concern.
Cuadrado stressed that “this is only in the context of the lowest level of alert, in which case the homologation of vaccines to enter the country. This means that no one is going to be expelled at the Santiago Airport for not having completed the homologation steps.”
In what situation will the borders of Chile be from April 14, 2022?
These measures are part of the Alert Level 1 of the Step-by-Step Planphase in which the country will be from Thursday, with the exception of the northern regions of Chile.
- border restriction: No travel restriction
- Traveler handling: Isolation of confirmed cases and follow-up of passengers classified as cases or contacts.
- Travelers declaration: The Health Passport from the C19 website and the request for health insurance against Covid-19 will continue to be required.
- Vaccination: It will be voluntary as a requirement to access the Mobility Pass, but it will no longer be necessary to enter the country.
- diagnostic test: A recommendation to request the test before entering the country will be maintained, but the PCR test with a negative result done before 72 hours of boarding will no longer be required. There could be random tests on arrival.
- Genomic surveillance: The positive PCR of passengers entering in the last 14 days will be analyzed.
New Protected Borders Plan
For now, Chile will be on Alert Level 1. In any case, the Ministry of Health reported what the rest of the phases of the Protected Borders Plan also consist of in case the epidemiological situation may change. This is of importance especially if a variant of concern arises, which happened last year with Delta and later with Omicron.
| Extent | Alert Level 1 | Alert Level 2 | Alert Level 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| travel restriction | No travel restrictions. | It will be partial, with a reduced flow of trips coming from and going to destinations where the presence of a new variant of concern is confirmed or suspected. Flows for humanitarian reasons, supply flows and strategic activities for the country will always be allowed. | It will be total for trips coming from and going to destinations where the presence of a new variant of concern is confirmed or suspected. Exception: Humanitarian reasons, supply flows and strategic activities for the country. |
| Traveler handling | Flight without cases: Without restrictions.
Confirmed case: Isolation according to general health regulations. In-flight contact case: In accordance with general health regulations. |
Flight without cases: Quarantine in a health residence or home for those who do not have a vaccine approval or mobility pass. The entry of said persons will be allowed only under the cause of humanitarian reasons and strategic activities.
Confirmed case: Isolation always in sanitary residence. In-flight contact case: Quarantine in health residence or home. |
flight without cases: Quarantine always in health residence, to all travelers coming from places where the presence of a new variant of concern is confirmed or suspected.
Confirmed case: Isolation always in sanitary residence. In-flight contact case: Quarantine always in health residence. |
| Declaration of travelers (C19 request) | Always, to all travelers. | Always, to all travelers | Always, to all travelers |
| requirement of homologation to entry for foreigners residents | Voluntary vaccine approval to access mobility pass. | Compulsory homologation of vaccines for entry | Compulsory homologation of vaccines for entry |
| Request for diagnostic test before get into | Recommended | required of all | required of all |
| Request for diagnostic test upon admission | It will be done randomly | Always, to all travelers | Always, to all travelers |
| Non-resident alien health insurance | Always, with coverage for COVID-19 | Always, with coverage for COVID-19 | Always, with coverage for COVID-19 |
| Genomic surveillance | All positive PCR of travelers in the last 14 days or close contact of travelers | All positive PCR of travelers in the last 14 days or close contact of travelers | All positive PCR of travelers in the last 14 days or close contact of travelers |
News in development…
