Paraguay requires negative PCR test for foreigners; excludes MERCOSUR countries

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The announcement was made by General Director of Health Surveillance Lida Sosa and Deputy Minister of Public Health and Health Surveillance Sandra Irala.

As well as a negative PCR, a complete vaccination certificate will be required of all those who wish to enter the country – except for border cities’ residents.

Sosa pointed out that these measures were taken due to the epidemiological situation in the country and the region and the entry of the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

“These new requirements are part of a tool that vaccination currently represents to reduce severe forms of the disease and also the emergence of new variants,” he said.

Irala emphasized that the vaccination certificate is “the main requirement” to enter Paraguay and it is “in line” with the requirements of countries in the South American bloc.

“Travelers who have completed 2 weeks after receiving the second of a 2-dose vaccination scheme, or who have received the single-dose vaccine are considered fully immunized,” the modified text states.

Furthermore, the vaccination requirement is only for people over 18 years of age, as several countries have either not yet started or have a low vaccination rate among minors.

Paraguay totals 474,463 cases since the first Covid-19 infection was recorded on March 7, 2020, while the number of deaths stands at 16,673.

The country is experiencing its “third wave” of Covid-19 after a consecutive increase of cases in several departments (provinces) in recent weeks.

On December 27, Paraguayan health authorities confirmed the first 3 cases of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

On Friday, the director of the Extended Immunization Plan (PAI) Dr. Héctor Castro announced that Paraguay will receive 500,000 pediatric doses of the Coronavac Covid-19 vaccine, to be supplied by Brazil.

According to the most recent vaccination records of December 29, a total of 3,469,821 people have been administered at least one dose of the vaccine while 2,948,027 have completed their vaccination schedule.