On April 6, Colombian President Iván Duque, announced that the national mandatory quarantine period, initially decreed to last until April 13, will be extended until April 26, 2020. Duque explained that his government will seek to implement an “intelligent compulsory isolation system”, through which strategic sectors of the economy will be allowed to expand and reconvert their operations, with changes made to the healthcare system to broaden coverage and new public infrastructure projects developed to guarantee the country’s connection and supply chain.  

“The measures taken have been positive,” said the president. In view of this and “taking into account the behavior of the virus and the public health information analyzed, we have taken the decision to maintain the Mandatory Preventive Isolation until April 26 at 11:59 p.m. Our challenge is to continue saving lives,” he concluded.

Minister of Commerce Juan Manuel Restrepo, assured that they will encourage the reconversion of industries towards the production of food, medicines, cleaning and hygiene supplies and medical equipment, among others. In addition, the Executive announced that the return to classes at all educational levels, initially set for April 20, will be postponed until May 31, 2020.