Chile plans a “prudent and gradual” opening of borders as of October

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In October, Chile will make changes in the regulation of entry and exit of travelers: airports and border crossings could be opened, in addition to reducing the number of days of mandatory quarantine from 7 to 5, said the Minister of Health, Enrique Paris, in a television interview.

The Chilean Minister of Health, Enrique Paris, expressed his optimism regarding the positive figures of the country on the pandemic and announced that this could be translated into modifications to the regulations on exit and entry to the national territory.

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In an interview on the TV program Estado Nacional, he was asked how long the borders would be closed, according to the newspaper La Tercera, to which he replied that “we think that in October if there is no evidence of a significant increase in cases, we will have changed in the control of the borders and other international airports will be opened (…) If the figures continue to be good, we will study a prudent, gradual opening.”

Although he did not specify dates (the current decree is in force until September 30), the Secretary of State mentioned the possibility of opening the international airports of Antofagasta or Concepción and expressed that “more border crossings will probably be opened to allow the entry of foreigners.”

In addition, according to La Tercera, Paris also stated that changes might be made in the regulation of mandatory quarantines for travelers entering the country.

Finally, he said that from his perspective, “it will not be necessary to extend the constitutional state of emergency (curfew)”.

“I cannot give my opinion alone because this is a political decision, not only a sanitary one. But with the current figures, we think it will not be necessary to extend the constitutional state of emergency. I thank Parliament for extending it until September 30, but from then on, it will probably not be extended,” he said on the TV program, according to La Tercera.