Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Santiago
Location: Chile
Event: COVID-19 Update
As of April 12, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 7213 cases of COVID-19 in Chile.
The government of Chile has implemented enhanced screening and quarantine measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Travelers should be prepared for travel restrictions to be put into effect with little or no advance notice.
With the suspension of LATAM’s international flights beginning April 13, there are currently no scheduled commercial flights from Chile to the U.S. through the end of April, and possibly longer. The Department of State is not currently organizing an evacuation of American citizens from Chile. There is no guarantee that there will be any flights (commercial, charter, or repatriation) from Chile to the U.S. during the period from April 13-30, and possibly longer. Please note that evacuation flights are not free of charge. Learn more about evacuation flights here.
Effective 18 March 2020, the U.S. Embassy in Santiago has suspended routine consular services. For emergency American Citizens Services, including emergency passports, please visit our website for additional information.
The government of Chile has implemented measures to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The following measures apply to Santiago metropolitan area:
- A quarantine is in effect for the following neighborhoods (comunas) in Santiago: Santiago Centro, Providencia, Ñuñoa, Las Condes, Vitacura, and Lo Barnechea. This quarantine will be lifted on Monday, April 13, at 5:00 am with the following exceptions:
- Santiago Centro: the part of the comuna north of Avenida Matta and Avenida Blanco Encalada will remain under quarantine
- Ñuñoa: the part of the comuna north of Avenida Grecia will remain under quarantine
- Las Condes: the entire comuna will remain under quarantine
- Puente Alto: The western half of the comuna (as divided by Avenidas Vicuña Mackenna and Concha y Toro)
- Note: Neighborhood-wide quarantines may be extended or modified by Chilean authorities at any time
- The use of face masks, whether commercial or homemade, is mandatory in the comuna of Las Condes. Violators will face a fine of approximately 50,000 Chilean pesos
- During this quarantine, people are allowed to obtain a permit to leave their residences only under certain circumstances, including for medical reasons, accessing public services (including pension payments) and paying bills for basic services
- American citizens can obtain a permit by visiting the Comisaria Virtual or by going to the local police station
- Permits will be valid for 30 minutes to 24 hours, depending on the purpose of travel
- For U.S. citizens traveling to the airport, a passport and flight confirmation serve as appropriate documentation
- In accordance with quarantine measures, Embassy personnel will be working from remotely. U.S. citizens requiring emergency services should continue to contact the Consular Section via SantiagoUSA@state.gov or by calling +56 2 2330 3000
- Checkpoints for health inspections will be placed at all principal points of entry and exit to the city of Santiago. In addition to checking the health of persons entering and leaving the city, these checkpoints will be used to confirm that specific individuals who have been ordered to quarantine by medical authorities are not violating their quarantine
- On April 3, the government announced that health inspection checkpoints would be increased for the Metropolitan Region of Santiago and the cities of Concepción and Temuco beginning Thursday, April 9, and continuing through Sunday, April 12. These checkpoints are to prevent people from entering and leaving these locations. Only those carrying a salvoconducto will be allowed to go through checkpoints- permits (like those to leave your residence during quarantine) will not be sufficient to pass through a checkpoint. U.S. citizens should continue to respect quarantine and curfew measures during Holy Week
The following measures also remain in effect:
- Restaurants, bars, cinemas, and malls are closed nationwide
- Mandatory 14-day self-quarantine for all foreigners and Chilean citizens arriving in Chile
- Daily nation-wide curfew from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am
- Entry into nursing homes by authorized personnel only (no family visits)
- Mandatory use of masks on public transport (including taxis and ride-hailing services)
- Sanitary controls in bus terminas, nation-wide
Outside of Santiago, the government of Chile has implemented quarantines in the following locations:
- Temuco
- Padre Las Casas
- Nueva Imperial
- Chillán
- Osorno
- Punta Arenas
- San Pedro de la Paz
