Given the sharp rise in cases of the new variant of coronavirus, Ómicron, more certainties than doubts have arisen regarding the implementation of restrictive measures to alleviate the advance of the pandemic. In this regard, the Minister of Health, Enrique Paris, assured that “some inaccuracies” have been said, making a clear allusion to what Izkia Siches said in the National State program.
“We have strengthened the protocols for entering the country by detecting the positive cases that our entry test at the airport throws, and then sequencing and thus confirming or ruling out the presence of the Omicron variant,” he said.
Another focus of criticism towards Minister Paris is related to the quarantines of those who enter Chile, where he requested the correct use of the information. “It is essential to inform well, inform well is part of correct risk communication, inform and not contribute to misinformation.” He asserted. Along the same lines, he explained that travelers who arrive in the country with their complete vaccination scheme undergo a PCR, in addition to the PCR test that they must bring 72 hours before. They must also do home quarantine until they receive a negative test result.
Faced with these procedures, he ruled out the use of restrictive measures and called for people’s collaboration. “At this time what we can say is that we are going to keep the measures as they are. I think we have made a huge effort (…) At the moment there are no announcements of border closure and nothing more strict, but we need collaboration of the population, “he concluded.
