PUERTO RICO – HONDURAS

On May 21, Puerto Rican Governor Wanda Vazquez published an Executive Order modifying social distancing rules put in place to combat COVID-19. As of May 26, restaurants and shopping centers will be allowed to operate. Meanwhile, the Honduran Executive branch has introduced its economic reopening strategy, prepared with the private sector and civil society, to allow businesses and industries to open in stages and by region.

The text of the plan will be released once the authorities of the National Emergency System (SINAGER, in Spanish) endorse its content, which is expected to happen in the next few days.

In Puerto Rico, the curfew will continue between 7 pm and 5 am through June 15, although delivery services may operate until midnight. The use of facemasks and social distancing measures are mandatory everywhere. Shopping centers may open between 9 am and 5 pm as of May 26, although with new social distancing regulations limiting them to 50% of their total capacity. Governor Vazquez is expected to issue an executive order to formalize this decision in the next few days. 

The plan introduced in Honduras divides the country into three regions depending on the number of COVID-19 cases. Workers will gradually be allowed back to work by region, within a period of up to 70 days. Local governments in Region 3, which are the most affected by COVID-19, face the slowest and most gradual recovery process. The plan is to be implemented after SINAGER endorses the proposal.