The Government was deployed on Friday to defend itself against criticism from the announcement of the mobility pass – which will take effect on Wednesday – which seeks to grant greater freedoms to people who have completed their vaccination process.
The issue became the new headache for La Moneda and forced the ministerial team to deploy on Tuesday to respond to criticism from experts and the Medical College. The latter emphasized the high number of active cases and added that it delivers a contradictory message to citizens. Under this logic, they set the Government to reconsider the implementation of this pass.
This morning, at an activity in the commune of Providencia, Health Minister Enrique Paris dismissed Colmed’s criticism and called them to propose positive things. “Please propose positive things that do not base everything on criticizing. To answer the secretary of the Medical College, propose something. Why can’t people be able to have the freedom to choose? It’s no obligation, it’s not a free chipe.”
“We have not seen any glimpse of a large increase in cases (…) I’d ask you the same question, where do you get the information? I am seeing that there is an increase in cases, we are seeing that there is an increase in cases, that is undeniable, today we will have fewer cases,” Minister Paris said.
“We’re not seeing this increase last as long as other increases lasted in the past,” he added.
On the other hand, Paris noted that the mobility pass is a complement to the Step-by-Step Plan and assured that older adults will benefit the most. “Now they will have their reward, because they will be able to use the Mobility Pass and they will be able to leave, they will be able to visit relatives and grandchildren and granddaughters.”
Bellolio defends the mobility pass
Government spokesman Jaime Bellolio also defended the mobility pass, arguing that “we are in a different situation than when holiday permits were given which were also made with pandemic fatigue and mental health in mind.”
In an interview with Radio Infinita, Bellolio set an example to Europe, “where the green card, which is not this, allows a transit between the countries”, clarifying that this is not allowed with this mobility pass.
“I don’t want to fall into the disqualification logic in which some (…) There are some people, especially from the Medical College who are dedicated to disqualifying (…) that’s why we move wisely,” he added.
“This is a breakthrough for those who have contemplated their entire vaccination cycle, up to 14 days after their second dose, there comes a time when we have to tell people that these higher degrees of freedom have to be taken responsibility,” he said.
“I would ask these experts not to create any further confusion. Risk communication also passes through them. If they are saying that this is a green card, or that it allows a free chipe, confusion occurs because it is not what it allows,” Bellolio closed.
