Chile rules out border opening in September

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Chilean health authorities on Thursday (19) ruled out opening the borders with Argentina or other countries in September. They have also denied that there is a provisional date for the entry of foreigners into the country.

The clarification came just hours after Argentina’s immigration authorities said they were studying the implementation of a pilot plan to allow overland border crossings to Chile and Uruguay starting Sept. 6, 2021.

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Enrique Paris, Chile’s health minister, said categorically, “We have not considered any announcement of this kind. This decision by Argentina is unilateral. We have not had any official talks with this country.”

Chile closed its borders to tourism in April as the country experienced a second pandemic wave that wreaked havoc on its health system and forced it to close entry to all types of people.

Since the end of July, entry has been allowed for nationals and foreigners who have a vaccination card and completed their vaccination schedule at least 14 days ago.

However, entry of tourists is still completely prohibited because “we need to prevent more aggressive strains from entering and causing changes in the management of our pandemic,” Paris said.