Current Measures for Businesses by the Ministry of Health

We have summarized the measures currently in place by the Ministry of Health per internal resolution MS-DM-4467-2020.

Check for your business on the list so that you are sure what type of rule applies to you.

General rules for temporary closure of all establishments with sanitary permit:

• From Monday to Friday from 22:00 hours to 5:00 hours of the next day.
• Saturday and Sunday: totally.

Exceptions:

A. No hour restriction:

• Delivery services.
• Rent a car.
• Bikes rent.
• Gas stations.
• Community waste collection services.
• Public and private health establishments and veterinaries.
• Mobile health units (in accordance with Executive Decree N° 41045-S).
• Public Care Centers (CAIs).
• Care centers for people in vulnerable conditions.
• Parking lots.
• Short term stay accommodation centers (motels).

B. No hour restriction, but with closed doors and minimum personnel:

• Theaters, churches, Municipalities, District Councils and other municipality reunions.
• High performance sports of contact (no spectators).

C. No hour restriction at 50% capacity:

• Farmer’s fairs.
• Markets, supermarkets, mini supers, “pulerías” (grocery stores), bakery stores, butcher shops, greengroceries, and alike.
• Sale of agricultural, livestock, aquaculture and fishing products.
• Sale of agricultural, veterinary and animal feed supplies.
• Sale of hygiene supplies.
• Sale of spare parts, parts, and accessories for: vehicles, engines, bicycles, agricultural equipment, machinery and heavy and industrial equipment.
• Hardware stores.
• Locksmith booths.
• Stained glass stores.
• Repair of vehicles, motors, motorcycles, tires, cycles and workshops of bicycles, agricultural equipment, machinery and heavy and industrial equipment.
• Oil change service to vehicles (Lubricentros).
• Car wash services (Lavacar).
• Technical Vehicle Revision (RITEVE).
• Beauty salon and barber shops.
• Pet grooming shops.
• Municipality services platforms.
• Banks
• Call centers.
• Funeral homes and chapels.
• Client service offices (include Government agencies).
• National Parks.
• Hotels, cabins or long-term accommodation centers.

D. Monday to Friday form 5:00 hours to 22:00 hours and Saturday to Sunday from 5:00 hours to 19:00 hours:

• Takeaway self-service food services (using a vehicle).
• Takeaway food services in establishment.

E. Monday to Friday form 5:00 hours to 22:00 hours and Saturday to Sunday from 5:00 hours to 19:00 hours at 50% capacity:

• Retail sale of new and used motor vehicles.
• Sport facilities (to practice sports and recreational activities without physical contact).
• Establishments for practicing or training sports without contact.
• Gyms with appointment scheduling and different hours for people with risk factors.
• Swimming schools.
• Restaurants (businesses with Bar and Restaurant patents, are only allowed to operate in the restaurant with dispensing alcoholic drinks as long as they have an occupancy of 50%).
• Sodas and Cafeterias.
• Food places (food trucks, food courts).
• Event rooms for activities of maximum 30 people (with seats separation of minimum 1.8 meters, respecting the social bubbles and with lists of attendees with ID number and number of Contact). The 30 people include all staff and guests.
• Academies of theatrical, dance, musical and plastic arts without physical contact.

F. Monday to Friday form 5:00 hours to 22:00 hours:

• Cinemas and theaters (with seats separation of minimum 1.8 meters, respecting social bubbles and with ticket or electronic reservation).
• Museums (with ticket or electronic reservation).

G. Monday to Friday form 5:00 hours to 22:00 hours at 50% capacity:

• Activities of agents dedicated to the sale of live animals (livestock auctions).
• Shooting activities (polygons).
• Shopping malls (except food places that can operate Saturdays and Sundays, according to category E).
• Department stores.
• Animal theme parks, botanical parks or marine parks that do not imply access to beaches, pools or spas.

H. Beaches are open to public from Monday to Friday form 5:00 hours to 08:00 hours with social distancing of minimum 1.8 meters and respecting social bubbles.

To calculate the 50% you need to consider the following:

1. In accordance with the maximum capacity determined in the sanitary permit obtained. This capacity includes both workers/staff and clients.
2. A minimum security distance of 1.8 meters must be guaranteed between each person inside the facilities as well as on the sidewalk to enter the same.
3. If costumers need to wait in the line prior to enter, owner must guarantee these are organized respecting the suggested security distance.
4. In regard to spaces with no access to public, all measures established in the “General Guidelines for owners and managers of Job Centers due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)”.
5. In addition to the guidelines regarding capacity, facilities must guarantee the enforcement of other General guidelines by the Ministry of Health in accordance with the type of they provided.