Brazil Closing Borders to Contain Advance of Coronavirus
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The federal government will close Brazil’s land borders with Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guyana, Paraguay, Peru and Suriname in the face of the advancing coronavirus outbreak. The border with Venezuela has already been closed.
The measure was published this Thursday, 19, in a special edition of the Federal Gazette. The ordinance was signed by Ministers Sérgio Moro (Justice), Luiz Henrique Mandetta (Health), and Braga Netto, the Chief of Staff.
“For a period of 15 days from the date of publication of this ordinance, the entry into the country, by road or land, of foreign nationals from the countries mentioned is restricted,” says the document.
In case of non-compliance with the measure, there will be civil, administrative or criminal punishment, the offender’s instant deportation and inability to request refugee status.
However, the measure does not apply to Brazilians, immigrants with prior authorization to reside in the country, foreign professionals on a mission in the service of an international organization and foreign employees on a mission and foreign employees authorized by the federal government.
Furthermore, the restriction does not prevent road freight traffic and the implementation of humanitarian actions at the borders, provided they have been previously authorized by the local health authorities.
Brazil now has more than 600 confirmed cases of coronavirus throughout the country, with more than five confirmed deaths.
Source: Exame
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