Quarantine in Colombia Walking, jogging and cycling are some of the activities allowed
DInce June 1, new measures decreed by President Iván Duque began to be applied to continue fighting the coronavirus and, at the same time, reactivate Colombia’s economy. Although preventive isolation was maintained until July 1, Among the 43 exceptions established in Decree 749 there are some that allow citizens to go outside to carry out physical activities outdoors., as long as the biosecurity protocols established by the National Government are complied with.
From June 1 to July 1, dates between which preventive isolation must be met, the decree with which this extension was made official, allows Colombians to carry out certain types of outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, running, individual exercise and riding a bicycle, activities that can only be done in green areas, platforms and tracks, and at no time can they be done in a group.
From this date, all people have permission to leave. However, there are certain restrictions regarding the time each of the population groups can be outside:
- Children between 2 and 5 years old: they can carry out activities for 30 minutes a day, three times a week, and they must always be accompanied by an adult, who can be in charge of a maximum of two children per adult.
- Children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years old: They will be able to carry out activities for one hour a day, three times a week.
- Adults between 18 and 69 years old: these people have the least limitations, since they can carry out activities for two hours a day, every day. However, they should take into account if any restrictions such as the ‘Pico y Cédula’ apply in their city
- Adults over 70 years old: they are allowed to carry out activities for 30 minutes a day, three times a week.
Although the National Government opened the possibility to people so that they could go out to exercise for a time, other restrictions must be taken into account in order to do so:
- Physical activities in pairs or groups are not allowed
- Workouts or group races for bicycles are not allowed
- Activities in public parks, playgrounds, outdoor gyms, courts or sports courts are not allowed
- Activities in private gyms, sports centers, clubs and public or private pools are not allowed
- Metropolitan or zonal parks are not enabled
Colombians now have much more flexibility to go outside and carry out physical activities that allow them to clear their minds and stay healthy, always following sanitary protocols, at this time when confinement can generate anxiety and stress. Although the National Government gave people autonomy to carry out these physical activities, in some cities they have recommended doing them at certain times.
- Bogotá: 6 a.m. at 10 a.m.
- Medellín: 8 a.m. at 6 p.m.
- Cali: 6:00 a.m. at 7:00 a.m.
- Barranquilla: 4 a.m. at 8:00 a.m.
Just as protocols have had to be created for sectors of the economy that have been gradually reopening, in order to be able to go out for physical activities, certain precautions must also be taken to avoid any risk of contagion with coronavirus:
- No symptoms of respiratory disease
- Mandatory use of the mask
- Minimum distance of five meters between people walking
- Minimum distance of ten meters between people who jog, run or use a bicycle
- Activities a maximum of one kilometer around the home
- Have the cleaning kit (antibacterial gel, towel, water or food and sunscreen) for each person
- This is the new symptom of the coronavirus
- How should finances be managed to survive quarantine?
- Tips for working from home during quarantine
- 2020 coronavirus symptoms
