Safe corridors: Argentina authorized new entry routes from Bolivia and Chile

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Government continued with the relaxation of sanitary restrictions at the border and enabled the opening of three new safe international corridors in the province of Jujuy, thus adding more entry routes from the neighboring countries of Chile and Bolivia. The measure was announced in Administrative Decision 8/2022, published this Monday in the Official Gazette.

The new border crossing points are the “Gobernador Horacio Guzmán” International Airport, located 33 kilometers southeast of the center of the city of San Salvador de Jujuy, the Jama land border crossing, which joins the place of the same name with the Chilean municipality of San Pedro de Atacama, and the La Quiaca International Bridge, which connects the Argentine city of the same name with the Bolivian city of Villazón.

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The decision, signed by the Chief of Cabinet, Juan Manzur, and the Ministers of Health, Carla Vizzotti, and of the Interior, Eduardo “Wado” de Pedro, is in line with other similar decisions taken since October last year, when the entry of tourists from neighboring countries was authorized, which in November was extended to visitors from all over the world.

As it happened with the previous authorizations, it was clarified that the implementation of these safe corridors “will be adjusted to the provisions” of the protocol that was specially prepared for the occasion and “to the national regulations in force regarding the entry of people to the Argentine Republic”.

In this sense, the regulation approved by the portfolio led by Vizzotti established that the boarding of travelers” arriving in Jujuy must be “standardized to detect all those “positive by PCR for SARS-CoV 2 and identify close contacts in travel companions when appropriate to proceed to their isolation”.

In addition, the regulation indicates that local authorities will have to identify “carriers of new strains” of coronavirus and “prevent its dissemination in the province”.

If the person enters Argentina through the Horacio Guzman airport or the international pass of Jama, “it will be guaranteed the performance of an antigen test for COVID-19, in health facilities in charge of SAME Jujuy.

If the test is negative, the traveler may continue on his way. On the other hand, if the test is positive, the traveler must be isolated in a hotel at their own expense, quarantined at home, or not be allowed to enter the province.

In addition, all visitors coming from abroad will complete an affidavit with their personal contact information and address where they will be staying, which will feed the digital registration database of the Epidemiology Sub-Directorate of the Ministry of Health for follow-up purposes. In situations where a PCR is required, the day, place, and time for its performance will be indicated.

Finally, it was explained that people entering through the La Quiaca Villazón border crossing would be received by the National Border Health personnel, who will work with their current protocols.

All PCR samples of positive cases and their contacts will be sent to the Malbrán National Institute for genotyping.

Finally, it was remarked that “the costs related to the entry provisions established herein shall be borne by the person entering the country using the safe corridors, as informed by the national authority”.

In the recitals of the Administrative Decision published on Monday, the Government pointed out that this authorization was granted “in compliance with the relevant care and precautions stipulated in the protocol drawn up for such purpose”.