Colombia’s migration agency and private sector have adopted stricter measures to curb the spread of the Omnicron variant of the coronavirus.
Nine people who tried to enter Colombia by plane were returned for not being able to show proof that they were vaccinated or tested positive to Covid-19 on Tuesday, according to the Health Ministry.
The measure that applies to adult travelers is one of multiple that took force to slow down the most contagious strain since the beginning of the pandemic.
At least until the end of the year, restaurants and other venues are supposed to deny entry to people who can’t show that they have been vaccinated.
In the event that hospital admissions reach a critical point, governors have the authority to ban mass gatherings in public spaces.
The National Health Institute (INS) has yet to confirm the first Omnicron case.
Omnicron variant revives debate on Covid checks in Colombia
The chief of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on Tuesday that the coronavirus variant was “probably” already in countries that have yet to confirm its detection.
Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems.
WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
INS director Martha Ospina and Health Minister Fernando Ruiz have rejected measures like travel bans, claiming that these measures fail to effectively stop the spread of viruses.
The mayor of the capital Bogota, Claudia Lopez, had asked the government to demand positive test results from all people flying into Colombia from abroad.
Colombia’s government travel website has yet to update information on the new measures.
