Bogota.- Colombia is preparing to make its quarantine more flexible since Monday to combat coronavirus with a return to productive activities in construction and manufacturing sectors, a government measure that some local representatives have described as risky to citizens. According to Decree 593, signed by President Ivan Duque, activities excluding mandatory preventive isolation, which began on 25 March and was extended for now until 11 May next, will be extended from 27 April to 41.
Among the new activities excluded are those related to construction works of buildings, manufactures, gambling, individual outdoor physical activities, bicycles and public car parks.” I want to be very clear: The 27 will only be able to leave people working in these sectors when the projects or companies for which they work have those (biosecurity) protocols defined,” Duke said on a Facebook Live in which he explained government measures to address the pandemic. He further stated that “it is not that everyone working in the sectors will leave next Monday as we were two months ago,” but that they will “with a sense of responsibility and graduality, as these protocols are adopted.” However, the mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López, clarified today that in the Colombian capital on Monday “no work or company will begin”, because for now there will be a process of “enlistment and registration” with the authorities for this purpose.” Works and companies in some manufacturing sectors that want to start must be registered in advance in the towns (of the towns of Bogotá). They should also give us very important information about their workers: Who are they? How many are going to stay teleworking? How many, indispensablely, have to go to the workplace?” explained the mayor. ALCALDESA CRITICALSThe main criticism of Duque’s decision has been Lopez herself, who assured her this week that she was surprised by the inclusion of the manufacturing sector because, unlike with construction, no protocol had been organized for its reactivation.” I sent a letter to the president, becoming aware that an opening from next Monday at the time of various manufacturing sectors and also of construction would put many humble workers and their families in Bogota at risk, literally, He added: “I’ve made a concrete proposal for it to be revived (…) sequentially, by sector and business; gradually, not all works and companies at the time, but those that comply with the necessary protocols.” Lopez explained that he understands that the pandemic has “a double risk,” “contagion and mass death from coronavirus” and “economic fall and unemployment,” so both must be “mitigated but responsibly without risking the lives of humble workers (…) irresponsibly.” Meanwhile, Jorge Iván Ospina, mayor of Cali, the main city of southwestern Colombia, said he is working the disqualination of the isolation proposed by the National Government to start tomorrow. Anchored in that it should be progressive and safe, we do not want to throw overboard what has been very difficult to achieve. Everything must be scientifically based,” he added on Twitter.CONSTRUCTORES, COMMITTED TO BIOSEGURIDADThe Colombian Chamber of Construction (Camacol) stated that the Government’s decision was “responsible and timely” and will ensure, in addition, the livelihood of more than 1.6 million people working directly in this sector.” With this intelligent isolation we will be able to resume the generation of employment and we will continue to build country,” said Camacol Executive President Sandra Forero.In the meantime, José Manuel Restrepo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, said that textiles will be able to start working specifically for the manufacturing sector; clothing; items made of leather, wood products, paper and cardboard; substances and chemicals; made of metal, and electrical appliances and equipment.” We are saying that these nine sectors could start producing, but it is very important to note that that does not in any way mean that it is an indiscriminate exit of all workers and all companies to operate on Monday,” the minister said. You might be interested in:
Cinema Mobiles Tour Colombia to keep people at homeColombia reaches 5,379 cases of Covid-19 and 244 deceasedCarlos Pizarro, 30 years of impunity of the murder that cut the spring
