COVID-19: Foreigners from high-risk countries must remain in mandatory quarantine after entering the country.
From November 23 to December 7, foreigners and non-resident Chileans arriving from countries with a high incidence of Sars-Cov2 must have a negative PCR, compulsory health insurance and a health passport, report details of their visit and remain in quarantine for 14 days.
Today, Interior Undersecretary Juan Francisco Galli and Public Health Undersecretary Paula Daza announced the “Paso a Paso” Plan (Step-by-Step Plan for Opening Borders), which includes three fundamental pillars: gradualism, security and traceability.
Foreigners will be allowed to enter the country as of midnight on November 23, but only through Arturo Merino Benítez airport, provided they comply with all health requirements. "On March 18 we closed the borders to any non-resident Chilean or foreigner. Chile introduced measures to safeguard the right of Chileans and residents who could return to Chile. Progress has been achieved, so the President has introduced entry flexibility exclusively at Arturo Merino Benitez airport, subject to restrictive and sanitary measures," explained Undersecretary Galli.
Undersecretary Paula Daza explained that all foreigners and non-resident Chileans must meet three requirements in order to board a plane flying to Chile: a PCR taken less than 72 hours before boarding the plane, compulsory health insurance covering COVID-19 treatment, and their health passport completed on www.c19.cl
However, during the first two weeks after opening the border, between November 23 and December 7, foreigners coming from countries classified by the WHO as high-risk must remain in quarantine for 14 days. This list is published weekly on the World Health Organization website.
The Undersecretary explained that this is required in order to analyze the situation in Chile after opening the borders and to protect citizens.
During their visit, non-resident Chileans and foreigners must also report their health status and location for 14 days on a platform that will be announced next week. "This measure fulfills our traceability requirements. We need to know where visitors are located and their health status," said the Undersecretary.
She explained that, "Any foreigner who fails to comply with the 14-day monitoring requirements may risk serious penalties. These may be fines as specified in the Health Code, or being taken to a health residence facility at their own expense, or even deported back to their home country".
All foreigners entering Chile must comply with Chile's health measures such as always wearing a mask, never visiting a municipality in quarantine and always respecting curfews.
Chilean travelers
With effect from November 23, any resident Chilean or foreigner who travels abroad and returns to Chile must also comply with several requirements.
They can enter without a negative PCR, but they must remain in quarantine for 14 days. They can be exempted from quarantine if a PCR is taken during this time and the result is negative. They can also submit a negative PCR from their country of origin, provided it was taken less than 72 hours before boarding their return flight. They must also complete the health passport declaration.
Chileans and foreigners must report their data for 14 days on the platform that will be announced next week.
"We are prudently opening our borders and taking the necessary safeguards. We hope that these reunions can take place, especially for binational families who have been separated, provided they comply with all the health measures to avoid infection. Chileans and foreigners, I ask that we take care of each other," said Paula Daza.