June 03, 2021 4:11 PM
Guayaquil Editorial Office (I)
The Committee of Emergency Operations (COE) National ordered the Ministry of Health (MOH) to update and standardize the guidelines for admission to the country and the archipelago of Galapagos by setting the same requirements and eliminating barriers to the islands.
“June is the month of economic reactivation for Galapagos. The national COE has resolved to standardize the requirements,” indicated the Minister of Tourism, Niels Olsen, this Wednesday, June 5. The mandatory requirement will eliminate the PCR test for the domestic and international passengers that have the vaccination certificate and travel to the islands, he said.
The international travelers can enter Ecuador from March 22 presenting a PCR test or negative antigen test (made up to three days before the arrival) or with vaccination card against Covid-19, with these regulations.
The measure applies to the international airports of Guayaquil and Quito and will now also be extended to the Enchanted Islands.
“Previously, there was an additional requirement to go to Galapagos, regardless of whether the person was vaccinated and would have to present a negative PCR test; that barrier will be dismantled in the next few days,” explained Ángel Córdova, general manager of Tagsa, Guayaquil Airport concessionaire.
The National COE must approve the new guidelines for entry to the Galapagos presented by the MSP, with the date of its entry into force, a process that usually takes a few days.
The Ministry of Tourism confirmed that the pronouncement of the Ministry of Health must be awaited to define the entry into force of the new provision.
The measure responds to a request from the Governing Council and the archipelago’s active forces, which already has a large part of its population immunized and which seeks to accelerate the process of economic reactivation through tourism.
The administration of former President Lenín Moreno assured he would leave office with the Galapagos immunized against Covid-19, thanks to 40,000 doses destined for the islands from the pharmaceutical company Pfizer; the islands have a population of 33,042 inhabitants.
A part of the population over 18 years of age is still completing the [second phase of the] vaccination scheme on the Isabela and San Cristóbal islands.
In the last week there have only been three new cases of coronavirus infections – two on Santa Cruz Island and one in San Cristóbal. In the week before that, the total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 was only 11 affected.
Read the original coverage from El Comercio at https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/ecuador/turistas-galapagos-covid-vacunacion-pandemia.html
Additional coverage from El Comercio regarding updates to the national public health regulations and biosecurity protocols, including the use of vaccination certificates to enter the Galapagos can be found here – https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/ecuador/galapagos-clases-pandemia-coe-ecuador.html
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