Chile announces removal of restrictions on leaving and arriving in the country

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Chilean Undersecretary of Health, Paula Daza, advised on Monday about new changes in the country’s travel protocols, among which are included the elimination of restrictions to leave the country, modifications that, according to her, will come into effect as from December 1.

As part of the plan promoted by the Chilean government for the return to the new normality, Daza detailed that the airports of Santiago, Inique, Antofagasta, and Punta Arenas will be accessible, as well as the land crossings of Chacalluta, Colchane and Pino Hachado.

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The Undersecretary explained that all Chilean foreigners and residents will be able to arrive in the country through the authorized crossings, as well as non-resident foreigners with their vaccinations previously validated by the Ministry of Health, or who meet any of the exceptional requirements set forth in Decree 102 of the Ministry of the Interior.

Regarding infants, the official emphasized that all children under six years of age “regardless of their nationality or vaccination status” will be able to enter Chilean territory as from December 1.

Likewise, Daza explained that those who wish to set foot on Chilean soil and are older than two years of age, will have to present a negative PCR test performed in the country of origin, a measure which will apply both to Chileans or resident foreigners, as well as to non-resident foreigners.

Non-resident foreigners will also have to have an affidavit, an insurance of more than US$ 30,000 covering any Covid-19 related condition, and the validation of their vaccinations by the Ministry of Health of the Andean country.

In relation to the isolation measures, any person who intends to enter the country and presents a booster dose applied in the last six months prior to the trip and, in addition, this is “registered and validated in their mobility pass” will be exempted from testing and isolation upon entry to the country.

Those who have a mobility pass but have not received their booster dose will have to be tested and isolated, as well as those who do not have their vaccines validated, although in the latter case, unlike the former, the quarantine will be extended for five days, regardless of the test result.

In view of this opening, there are many Chileans, including experts on the subject, who call attention to the increase in the number of cases registered recently in the country.

The head of the Critical Patient Unit of the Barros Luco Hospital and dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Autonomous University, Dr. Luis Castillo, told the local media that the country is immersed in a wave of active cases that may be growing, with projections that are close to 600 patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit beds.

The average number of infections with the new coronavirus in Chile in the last week exceeds 2,400, and shows a tendency to continue rising in the coming dates.