Uruguay: COVID-19 test is no longer necessary to enter if vaccinated

Since yesterday Friday it is no longer necessary to present a PCR or antigen test to enter Uruguay. According to the decree signed last Friday by the President of the Republic Luis Lacalle Pou, the government considers that “it is necessary and desirable to update the regulatory framework referred to, adapting it to the evaluation of the measures adopted and the evolution of the pandemic that motivates the national emergency situation sanitary”.

The document indicates that part of decree 195/020, of July 15, 2020, which governs the rules of entry into the country in the context of the health emergency, is replaced. These types of measures, together with the exchange rate difference, favor the fact that Uruguayan tourism ceases to be within their own country and that they turn to Argentina.

The mayor of Salto, Uruguay, Andrés Lima, also confirmed that starting in April one could cross from Argentina to Uruguay simply by showing proof of being vaccinated. Speaking to the press, the Uruguayan president confirmed a few days ago: “In this case, simply by showing proof of being vaccinated, you could cross from Argentina to Uruguay. It is something that would start running since April and the only question we have is whether it will be before Tourism Week or after it”.

The Minister of Tourism, Tabaré Viera, had already insisted on the importance of this measure to contribute to the growth of the tourism sector, which, despite the summer season, failed to recover. At a press conference he said that “the more flexible income is made and the lives of tourists are made easier, the better for the sector. But it has a health fund that has to be resolved by the MSP.”

Satdijan commented on the measures taken so far by the Ministry of Public Health: “In these two years we were very responsible. Currently, the remaining measures are for enclosed spaces in some activities. All [outdoor] activities no longer have protocols, [although] there are recommendations for masks in case of large crowds,” he said on Radio Universal.

For his part, the minister of the portfolio, Daniel Salinas, declared that the cessation of the health emergency “is an agenda item for when the Ómicron wave passes and important vaccination groups are reached in March,” La Diaria reported.

The one that follows is the regulations that have been in force since April 1, according to El País de Uruguay and the Ministry of Health of that country.

Use a face mask in opportunities of contact less than two meters away with other people, both during the trip and upon arrival in the country;

Having health coverage in Uruguay

Comply with contagion prevention measures determined by the health authority

Make the affidavit referred to in article 1 of Decree No. 195/020 of July 15, 2020

Those who have not suffered the disease COVID-19 within the last 10 (ten) to 90 (ninety) days prior to embarkation or arrival in the country and do not prove that they have received the single dose or both doses, depending on the type of vaccine supplied, against the SARS CoV-2 virus approved by their country of origin, must additionally prove that they have received a negative result of a SARS CoV-2 virus detection test (by molecular biology technique PCR-RT, antigens or diagnostic techniques that were approved by the Ministry of Public Health), carried out no more than 72 (seventy-two) hours before the start of the trip (provided that the passenger is in transit), in a laboratory authorized in the country of origin or transit. Minors under 6 years of age are exempted from the obligation set out in this paragraph, and are subject to the rest of the sanitary measures established in this Decree.

Persons who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or had symptoms of the disease will not be able to enter within the last 7 (seven) days prior to arrival in the country.

Salinas had announced that he believes that “the conditions for progressive normality will be in place.” Like Satdjian, he said that, just as in February all outdoor activities were enabled without the need for capacity control or vaccination status of attendees, in the first week of April there could be increased flexibility in indoor activities, education and entry conditions.

Asked about the cessation of the use of masks, he added that “we are not going to rush” and asked that it continue to be used in closed spaces as it was the measure that also allowed to reduce infections of other respiratory viruses in the last two years.

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