20 May 2020
Through Executive Decree No. 26 dated May 19, 2020, published in the Official Gazette No. 102 Volume 427 of May 20, the Executive Body in the field of Health, decreed Extraordinary Prevention and Containment Measures to Declare the National Territory as an area subject to health control, in order to contain the COVID-19 Pandemic, in order to develop the conditions, time and manner of compliance with quarantine, surveillance or observation of the people subject to said control measures, as determined by the Ministry of Health for COVID-19.
This Decree is in effect from May 20, 2020 until June 06, 2020; and it would be the current legal framework that regulates the national emergency in El Salvador, as long as there is no pronouncement to the contrary by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, before which some unconstitutionality lawsuits have been filed that must resolve.
This Decree maintains the mobility restrictions established in the previous Executive Decrees, the main provisions being the following:
1) The national territory is declared an epidemic zone subject to health control to combat damage and prevent the spread of COVID-19,
2) The entire population must remain under home protection, and may only leave their home or residence, in cases authorized by the Decree.
3) All people who are suspected of being infected with COVID-19, who have been exposed to contagion, will be subject to quarantine and isolation, who must be informed of the protocol to follow, as determined by the Ministry of Health.
4) They will be subject to quarantine:
a) Any person from abroad who enters the country, while the health emergency lasts.
b) People who have breached home security without justification and who are classified as suspected cases or exposed to possible contagion,
c) Persons defined as epidemiological links.
5) People with justified cause are exempted from home quarantine:
a) The acquisition of food and beverages, as well as basic necessities,
b) Media staff,
c) Agricultural Sector and its workers,
d) Financial sector, AFP, INPEP and Insurance,
e) Private security services and technical personnel for electrical energy, water, telephone and internet services,
f) Employees and contractors of companies, industry and entities engaged in the activities permitted by the Decree.
6) The permitted products and services are established in Article 10 of the Decree, in which the activities permitted in the previous Decrees are maintained, without increasing any activity that is not considered essential during the emergency.
7) Circulation rules are established for people, who can only circulate on the dates indicated according to the last digit of their Unique Identity Document.
8) Prohibitions are maintained for the following activities and services:
a) Opening of restaurants to the public including take-out and can only operate at home,
b) The activities of all non-perishable food companies, with the exception of cereals, powdered milk, pasta, flour, baby food, sugar, salt, coffee, consommés, condiments, tomato sauces, mustard and similar.
c) The opening to the public of shopping centers in which only supermarkets, pharmacies and banks can be open.
d) The opening of florists, pastry shops and stores dedicated to the sale of products related to celebrations of any type.
9) The protection of priority workers is maintained: Companies that are authorized to operate must send home employees over 60 years of age, pregnant women, and people with chronic illnesses.
10) People who fail to comply with home quarantine will be immediately transferred to a medical evaluation establishment, to whom health protocols will be applied and if they present any symptoms of COVID-19, they will be sent to a Containment Center to comply. the corresponding quarantine.