Colombia suspended flights to Brazil for a month to avoid possible arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 variant from that country

The Colombian Government decided this Wednesday to suspend flights to and from Brazil from January 29 for 30 days as a preventive measure against a possible Brazilian variant of the coronavirus, President Iván Duque reported.

“As a preventive measure, and for a period of 30 days, while all observations are made, measures are taken to restrict flights from Colombia to Brazil or from Brazil to Colombia,” Duque said on the television program “Prevention and Action.” ”, in which every day he talks about his Government's measures to confront the pandemic.

The head of state added: "We know that there is information that is currently being explored not only by the authorities of Brazil but also of other countries regarding a strain or lineage that has been identified in that territory."

He explained that the measure applies to passenger transportation and not cargo transportation, which will continue to operate as it has been happening and comply with biosafety protocols.

Additionally, Duque said that together with the authorities of the department of Amazonas, bordering Brazil, supported by the Ministry of Health, the “capacity for epidemiological monitoring and supervision” will be strengthened.