The decision, released by the President of the Republic, Luis Lacalle Pou, on April 4 on his Twitter account, will be reflected in a decree in the coming days.
After the agreement was finalized, the Minister of Public Health, Daniel Salinas, reported that the use of masks will be recommended for certain people and places, such as hospitals, health personnel; transport; and closed environments with a high concentration of the public.
After the meeting held in the Executive Tower, between Lacalle Pou, the minister Daniel Salinas and the undersecretary, José Luis Satdjian, where the current information on COVID-19 was analyzed, the Government decided to lift the health emergency.
Subsequently, Salinas spoke with the media and said that Uruguay is experiencing a favorable epidemiological moment, based on data and objective criteria such as the incidence of new weekly cases, the occupation of moderate care and ICU beds, and the severity of the condition. in terms of the number of deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. These factors, added to the percentage of vaccinated, and the additional immunization generated by the wave of the omicron variant, contribute to the moment of making the determination announced on the day.
The minister explained that lifting the health emergency implies that the use of masks in specific places is recommended, but will not be an obligation. In this sense, he especially cited hospitals; long-stay establishments for the elderly; the places where meals are prepared; health personnel; transport; and closed places where there is a high concentration of people.
He explained that 85% of the population received the first dose of vaccines; 80% the second dose and 64% the third. “It is time to make that qualitative change, but absolutely necessary for normalization,” she assured.
He announced that they will not be asked to comply with capacity in closed spaces, or in shows, cinemas, event venues and gyms.
The use of masks will be recommended in certain circumstances, because other coronaviruses, respiratory viruses, influenza A and B, the precautionary virus and meningitis continue to circulate. The swabs will also be carried out under specific recommendations, Salinas added.
The teaching protocols will vary, he said, and in that sense he announced that this Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. he will have a meeting with the Minister of Education and Culture, Pablo da Silveira, and the president of the Central Board of Directors of the National Administration of Public Education (Codicen-ANEP), Robert Silva, to analyze a specific health proposal.
Asked about the elimination of the obligation to present a PCR when entering the country, he said that people over 12 years of age will continue to be requested.
He also stated that after the Tourism Week, the reports on the situation of COVID-19 in Uruguay will be weekly and not daily, due to the incidence and the decrease in serious cases.
Asked about the Coronavirus Fund, the minister stressed that it is an administrative issue linked to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
