Mexico

Mexico continues to be on Phase 3 of coronavirus; recently the undersecretary of health Hugo Lopez-Gatell, informed that “serological surveys” will be carried out to recognize the proportion of people who currently has immunity to COVID-19. A serological survey is an interview to recognize certain characteristics: demographic and social but must importantly to acquire knowledge about the course of the disease into the Mexican society. This type of survey will have questions about the medical profile of each person surveyed in the last 30 days. He also explained that the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut) 2020, which will be apply to people on July, is going to have many COVID components.[1]

The Secretary of Economy, in joint effort with other institutions such as The Secretary of Health and Mexican Social Security Institute, have already defined the necessary rules in order to begin with the preparations that have to be applied in companies of construction, mining and transport industries, therefore when the authorities allowed them to reopen their offices it can be done with safety protocols and taking care of the health of workers. The document is called “Technical Guidelines for Health Safety in the Workplace”. The established aims to achieve an orderly, gradual and cautious reopening of work activities.

Moreover, President Lopez Obrador said that a special mechanism has already been established so through this procedure companies can be able to request their reopening. In summary, this method will require all businesses to answer a 60-question questionnaire and make a commitment to act responsibly under protest and to tell the truth. After the procedure has been approved by the mechanism, corporations are going to have permission and authorization to restart their activities if they accept the implementation of the necessary hygiene protocols.[2]

Additionally, the National Coordination of Civil Protection and the government of Mexico City agreed to cancel the national earthquake macro simulation on May 20^th, in order to avoid crowds and thus put their health at risk due to the health emergency of COVID-19.[3]

On May 20^th, the government announce their “new normality” plan that is based on colors:

Costa Rica

Costa Rica began the first phase of a de-escalation of sanitary measures. From May 18^th to May 31^st, during this time the Costa Rican authorities have already approved a gradual reopening of the national economy as long as the population continues to obey the health guidelines and the cases do not rise exponentially. If the first face proves to be successful new phases will continue to be applied.[4]

The new provisions contemplate for the reopening of business activities are:

• The opening of 13 national parks and hotels with only 20 rooms, if they limit admission and occupancy to 50% of capacity.
• Theaters and cinemas are also allowed to operate if they implement seating separation measures of at least 1.8 meters between each person and a digital tickets or electronic reservation.
• The beaches were enabled to open from Monday to Friday from 5:00 am to 8:00 pm local time, as well as access to recreational sports without physical contact and behind closed doors of physical contact sports from Monday to Sunday.
• The authorities also extended the allowed hours of service for establishments with sanitary operating permits, such as restaurants, shops and shopping centers which now will be from Monday to Friday until 22:00 pm local time.[5]

The Minister of Public Security, Michael Soto, informed that the traffic filters across the country will limit the entry of foreign carriers into national territory, in order to prevent the borders from eventually becoming hotbeds of contact with coronavirus.

The Costa Rican government also developed a guide document that functions as the basis for creating health protocols that will have to be applied in all productive sectors for the reopening. This document is called “Requirements for the preparation of sectoral protocols for the implementation of Health Guidelines for Covid-19”. In this document contains the requirements for compliance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health on hygiene and disinfection, logistics in the workplace and effective communication mechanisms. The Ministry of Health will carry out random inspections to verify compliance with sectoral protocols and guidelines when activities, services and work centers are completely enabled.[6]

Guatemala

Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei made official that the country enters to the mitigation phase of coronavirus and infomed on May 14^th, into a national chain message that the measures adopted in the country will be tightened to slow the advance of the coronavirus pandemic. The mobility of individuals is now restricted starting on May 18^th, it will only be possible to circulate, in cases of need, between 05.00 am and 17.00 pm.

In addition, pedestrian circulation to stores will only be allowed from 08:00 am to 11:00 am, but only if people wears a mask and practice social distancing. On the other hand, the markets will only be able to operate Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 06:00 am to 1:00 pm, while the supermarkets will only operate Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 09:00 am to 4:00 pm. Pharmacies and food delivery services may operate without restriction of hours.[7]

Giammattei also said that these measures will apply next week too, that is, from 5:00 pm on Thursday, May 21^st to 5:00 am on Monday, 25^th. Neighborhood stores won’t be included, nevertheless he urges families to stock up on all the necessary resources at the times established to avoid sanctions.

In the other hand, disinfection work is carried out in the facilities of the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT). The tax agency in the Dubai Center building will be closed this week as a preventive measure. As of May 18^th, attendance will be reduced to almost 85% in person in some areas and staff will be assigned to telework in this entity. The SAT indicates that taxpayers can use electronic tools for their procedures and returns.[8]

El Salvador

The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, assured this Sunday, May 17^th, that his country is not prepared to resume economic activities due to the advance of COVID-19 and thus dismissed the request by businessmen to gradually reopen the economy most importantly because the country continues to be on a community transmission phase of coronavirus. According to the president, El Salvador has not reached “the peak of the contagion curve” hence reactivating the economy would involve a lot of risk for the population.

As a consequence, the Salvadoran authorities decided to extend for 30 days more the following measures:

• Suspension of all types of classes at any academic level.
• Temporary suspension of payments of electricity or any other electric service.
• the circulation in areas affected by the disease now restricted, as well as the concentration of people.
• The government it’s authorized to use funds from executive institutions to deal with the pandemic on a discretionary basis.[9]

The government used Article 24 to extend the state of emergency, a measure normally used when legislators are unable to meet. The main objective of the extension of the state of emergency, according to Conan Castro, the Presidential Legal Secretary, is to maintain “the guarantee of the fundamental rights of health and life of the population” when the country is “days after the collapse” due to the increase of cases. Furthermore, it authorizes the authorities to request international aid to alleviate the needs of the population.

The deputies of the ARENA and FMLN parties request that the president, together with the health authorities, have to coordinate the elaboration of a gradual plan for opening up the economy after the state of emergency it’s over with the implementation of health protocols and specific plans on how to carry out the proper protocols.[10]

[1] Política., Ariadna Ortega. Expansión. 2020. ¿México hará pruebas de COVID-19 ante el desconfinamiento? May 18. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://politica.expansion.mx/mexico/2020/05/18/mexico-hara-pruebas-de-covid-19-ante-el-desconfinamiento.

[2] Infobae. 2020. “Ya falta muy poco”: López Obrador pidió un último esfuerzo para terminar de domar al coronavirus. May 18. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.infobae.com/america/mexico/2020/05/18/ya-falta-muy-poco-lopez-obrador-pidio-un-ultimo-esfuerzo-para-terminar-de-domar-al-coronavirus/.

[3] Milenio. 2020. Coronavirus en México, 17 de mayo: noticias de hoy sobre el covid-19. 17 de May. Último acceso: 18 de May de 2020. https://www.milenio.com/politica/coronavirus-mexico-17-mayo-noticias-covid-19.

[4] Agencia EFE. 2020. Agencia EFE Costa Rica inicia la flexibilización de medidas sanitarias por el COVID-19. May 16. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.msn.com/es-us/noticias/otras/costa-rica-inicia-la-flexibilizaci%C3%B3n-de-medidas-sanitarias-por-el-covid-19/ar-BB14bB67.

[5] Agencia EFE. 2020. Costa Rica inicia la flexibilización de medidas sanitarias por el COVID-19. May 16. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.efe.com/efe/america/sociedad/costa-rica-inicia-la-flexibilizacion-de-medidas-sanitarias-por-el-covid-19/20000013-4248210.

[6] Presidencia de Costa Rica. 2020. LISTO DOCUMENTO SOBRE GUÍA DE REQUISITOS PARA PROTOCOLOS DE SALUD QUE DEBERÁN APLICAR SECTORES PRODUCTIVOS Y DEMÁS ACTIVIDADES, PARA LA REAPERTURA. May 17. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.presidencia.go.cr/comunicados/2020/05/listo-documento-sobre-guia-de-requisitos-para-protocolos-de-salud-que-deberan-aplicar-sectores-productivos-y-demas-actividades-para-la-reapertura/.

[7] Aristegui Noticias. 2020. Guatemala declara “cierre total” para frenar la pandemia del coronavirus. May 15. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://aristeguinoticias.com/1505/mundo/guatemala-declara-cierre-total-para-frenar-la-pandemia-del-coronavirus/.

[8] Prensa Libre, Rosa María Bolaños. 2020. Llegan a 8 los casos de coronavirus en la SAT, agencia Dubai Center cerrará una semana. May 17. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.prensalibre.com/economia/aumentan-a-7-los-casos-de-coronavirus-en-la-sat-agencia-dubai-center-cerrara-una-semana/

[9] El Economista. 2020. El presidente Bukele dice que “no es tiempo de abrir” economía en El Salvador. May 18. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.eleconomista.net/actualidad/El-presidente-Bukele-dice-que-no-es-tiempo-de-abrir-economia-en-El-Salvador-20200518-0009.html.

[10] La Tercera. 2020. “Usurpación de facultades”: La controvertida gestión de la pandemia que adoptó Bukele en El Salvador. May 17. Accessed May 18, 2020. https://www.latercera.com/la-tercera-pm/noticia/usurpacion-de-facultades-la-controvertida-gestion-de-la-pandemia-que-adopto-bukele-en-el-salvador/XRHWMTOEDRGJPKZWD7ILUTMHFE/.