Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Santiago – Covid-19 Update (12/31/2020)

U.S Embassy, Santiago, Chile

 

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Santiago

Location: Chile

Event: Changes in Quarantine Measures Announced

***The Embassy will send STEP messages whenever there are changes to quarantine measures announced by the Chilean government***

As of December 31, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 608,973 cases of COVID-19 in Chile.

The Chilean government announced that starting on December 31, all travelers, including Chileans, foreign residents, accredited diplomats, and foreign tourists, must complete an obligatory 10-day quarantine upon their arrival to Chile.  They will be able to leave quarantine with a negative PCR result based on a test taken on or after the seventh day in quarantine.  Travelers must remain in quarantine while they await their result.

 Non-resident foreigners (tourists) of all ages will have to present three documents when boarding:

  • A completed “Affidavit of Travelers” electronic form (available at www.c19.cl and also known as a Sanitary Passport) prepared less than 48 hours before boarding;
  • Proof of a negative result from a PCR result from a test taken within 72 hours prior to  departure (Note: the 72-hour time period begins from the time the test is administered- not from when the test results are returned); and
  • Proof of a health insurance policy that provides coverage for Covid-19 and related health issues during the traveler’s stay in Chile.  The Health Insurance must cover charges associated with COVID-19 during your stay, with a coverage of USD $ 30,000 (minimum). All documents must be presented before boarding the flight to Chile.

 “Rapid” COVID-19 tests (for example, antigen-only tests) are not accepted for entry into Chile.  The test must be a PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).  Foreign residents of Chile and holders of diplomatic/official passports are exempt from the PCR and health insurance requirements.

 Any traveler entering Chile has up to 24 hours to continue on to their final destination before beginning their quarantine, if the final destination is outside the Santiago Metropolitan Region.

 Travelers must complete an online form with the Ministry of Health and may receive additional emails from Chilean health authorities requesting daily reporting of location over a period of 14 days post-arrival in Chile.

 Further information can be found on the following Chilean government’s website: https://saludresponde.minsal.cl/preguntas-frecuentes-viajeros-extranjeros/

On December 30, the government announced a special “vacation permit” for municipalities in Paso 2. The permit will allow residents of these comunas to leave once, to a single destination, for vacation between January 4 and March 31.

The Vacation Permit can only be used once per person, between January 4 and March 31:

  • It is valid for travel to a single destination outside of the region where you live.
  • Travelers must indicate the destination and the dates of travel on the permit.
  • It cannot be used to travel to/from any comuna in Paso 1 (quarantine).
  • Travelers must still fill out the Pasaporte Sanitario.

For a full list of measures implemented by the Chilean government, please visit our Embassy webpage on COVID-19. This webpage is updated daily, and includes a list of all comunas currently in quarantine.

For more information on the Chilean government’s “Paso a Paso” program, and what is permitted during each phase, please visit this website (Spanish only).

Assistance: U.S. Embassy Santiago, Chile