Santiago – Chilean authorities announced on Monday (Sept. 27) the end of a state of emergency in force since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a sign of life returning to normal following a sharp decrease in cases in the South American nation.
The state of emergency, an extraordinary administrative measure approved by Congress early in 2020, had allowed the government to impose night-time curfews and forced quarantines on hard-hit districts amid the worst of the outbreak.
“During the last three months…the health situation …has evolved favourably, with a very significant reduction in infections, active cases, hospitalizations and deaths,” President Sebastian Pinera told reporters.
The government said it would also relax restrictions on movement, liberalize limits on capacity at events and public spaces and earlier this month reopened its borders to tourists.
The announcement comes the same day as the health officials began vaccinating children between 6 and 11 years old with China’s Sinovac vaccine, which received approval for an emergency in September.
Neighboring Argentina last week also unveiled plans to ease coronavirus pandemic restrictions, including loosening strict border controls, allowing more commercial activities and getting rid of the mandatory wearing of face masks outdoors.
