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News reports and rumors of the PCR test requirement coming back, just one month after Colombia removed the entry rule, have now been officially refuted by the Ministry of Health.
Fernando Ruiz Gómez, Colombia’s Minister of Health, has confirmed that travelers can still enter Colombia without bringing a negative PCR test with them, despite the new ruling a Bogota judge made to try and reinstate the PCR test requirement.
The Health Ministry issued a press release stating the “impossibility of complying with the ruling of a Bogotá judge” in regard to requiring all travelers not only bring a negative PCR test, but also quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
Ruiz Gomez stated
“It puts us in a very complex situation because it somehow superimposes individual rights over collective rights, which is what prevails in a condition like the one we are experiencing in a pandemic. That would lead us to quarantine more than 120,000 in December, of which 80,000 would have a negative test. As long as the Ministry of Health does not change the norm and impose the PCR test, people will be able to continue traveling,”
The Ministry of Health suggests the ruling by the judge cannot be complied with, as it directly contradicts previous rulings regarding the government’s policies and strategies for effectively managing the pandemic and refuses to accept the epidemiological recommendations publicized by the Pan American Health Organization.
“Mientras no se aplique el fallo, no se realizará prueba PCR a viajeros que ingresen a Colombia por vía aérea" ministro @Fruizgomez ➡️ https://t.co/Gn6QGblEZU pic.twitter.com/QrJhFgMpBq
— MinSaludCol (@MinSaludCol) December 4, 2020
Ruiz Gomez says that to control international travelers is futile, as long as transmission is still possible with domestic travel and community spread.
MinSalud’s press statement reads “It is estimated that only 0.03% of the cases registered in Colombia correspond to the traveling population from abroad, so Ruiz Gómez explained that if the country were in a containment phase, with a lower reproduction rate and number of infections to other countries with which there is constant connection, it would be feasible to close the borders or require diagnostic tests.”
In a tweet by the Health Ministry earlier today, a quote from Gomez was shared where he also debunked the effectiveness of travelers bringing negative tests with them, as they could very well contract the virus while in transit, making the negative results ineffective.
"Las personas que ingresan a Colombia a través de vuelos internacionales pueden tomarse la prueba antes de hacer el viaje y, posteriormente, mientras esperan el resultado, contagiarse con COVID-19, por lo que podría no ser una medida efectiva" ministro @Fruizgomez https://t.co/JlCJrWw4Hx
— MinSaludCol (@MinSaludCol) December 4, 2020
Translation: “People who enter Colombia through international flights can take the test before the trip and later, while waiting for the result, become infected with Covid-19, so it would not be an effective measure”
As of November 4, 2020, the government of Colombia removed the PCR testing requirement for entry into the country.
Previous to the November 4 removal, all arrivals (both foreigners and nationals returning home) were required to show proof of a negative PCR test, taken no longer than 96 hours prior to arrival into Colombia, after they reopened borders on September 21, 2020.
Since Colombia’s removal of the PCR test requirement, the nation has grown in popularity as one of the best places to go during the pandemic, especially for travelers from countries like the USA, who have seen themselves locked out of many nations.
Read More: See all of Colombia's entry requirements, countries American and Canadian tourists can enter, and countries open for tourism with NO testing/quaratines.
Sources: MinSalud.gov.co
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
sacredcowpies
Sunday 6th of December 2020
¡Viva Colombia!
Bebe
Sunday 6th of December 2020
Hi,thanks, it took more effort for me to be able to even open the Check Mig page, and the problem was the host country IP (Bulgaria), where I am. I only saw the "error page", nothing else. When I changed the VPN it opened.
christian
Saturday 5th of December 2020
I am very happy for Colombia finally coming to reason.
Bebe
Saturday 5th of December 2020
Thanks, but absolutely cannot open the link, not on the computer, not on the phone. I am really wondering what's going on, as I seem to be the only person on the planet unable to see that form. Bebe
Bryan
Saturday 5th of December 2020
Hey there Bebe, I use the site regularly and can help. It can be difficult. I use Chrome and don’t forget when you choose your country, if the US, it is Estados Unidos. What is happening?
Bryan
Saturday 5th of December 2020
Yes, just got back from Colombia myself and will be going again soon. Don't forget to fully and properly fill out the CheckMig website. It's a bad experience for people at immigration when they don't.