Colombia Announces Immediate Measures For All International Travelers To Prevent Coronavirus Spread

Colombia’s immigration authorities in conjunction with the Ministry of Health have announced new measures, effective immediately, that apply to all travelers entering Colombian territory, whether Colombian or foreign. Travelers before entering Colombia must complete a questionnaire on the Migration Colombia website (click here). The measures are intended to combat the spread of the Coronavirus Covid-19.

Over 1,300 arriving travelers to Colombia have been referred to health authorities for secondary Coronavirus screening so far, according to Migración Colombia.

Travelers must admit to any travel through China, South Korea, Germany, Japan, Iran, Italy, Spain, Ecuador, or the United States, if they have been in contact with any suspected coronavirus victims, or if they have experienced malaise, sore throat, fatigue, cough, or fever.

Increased intelligence and monitoring of flight data through the Joint Center for Migration Analysis is also providing more detailed information on the previous itineraries of international travelers, allowing health and migration authorities to reconstruct international itineraries of passengers and identify discrepancies.

Authorities are also stepping up security along  Colombia’s borders with Venezuela and Ecuador. “We will be considering specific works to evaluate the migration protocols, chains and service structures and the monitoring of the different guidelines in Riohacha, Cúcuta, on the border with Ecuador and in San Andrés, as very special areas where we have special need to focus actions, ”said the Minister of Health, Dr. Fernando Ruíz.

According to Migration Colombia, an average of 24,000 travelers arrive in Colombia daily, not including Venezuela. Of those, 60% arrive through El Dorado International Airport.

• 35,000 arrive from Venezuela
• 6,000 arrive from the US
• 1,800 arrive from Ecuador
• 320 arrive from Germany
• 46 arrive from Italy
• 7 arrive from China
• 4 arrive from Japan
• 3 arrive from South Korea

Above photo: Migración Colombia General Director Juan Francisco Espinosa.

Photo courtesy Migración Colombia