BOGOTA, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Colombian Minister of Health and Social Protection Fernando Gomez on Tuesday asked citizens to continue adhering to sanitary measures to better control the spread of COVID-19 as various sectors of the economy have begun to reopen.
"It is very important that Colombians do not have the feeling that everything has already happened. The virus continues to exist, it is among us, and if we lower our guard, there is a significant risk of outbreaks," he said.
The country's aviation sector was reactivated on Tuesday, with several local flights reopening after being closed for five months due to the pandemic, while inter-municipal transport also resumed operations in some regions with necessary biosecurity measures.
"I am optimistic because I have seen how Colombians have been learning and have generated social discipline to face the pandemic," said the minister.
Air passengers who traveled on the first flights were required to submit negative COVID-19 test results in addition to following airport biosecurity measures.
Last week, Colombian President Ivan Duque decreed that the country would end mandatory preventive isolation at the end of August and begin selective isolation, social distancing, and individual responsibility on Sept. 1 in an attempt to reopen parts of the economy.
Vice minister of Political Relations for the Interior Ministry, Daniel Palacios, said that as of Tuesday, some activities have returned to "normal," although strict sanitary measures are still in place to prevent the spread of the virus.
"The presidential decree encourages teleworking from home unless they are essential functions. We went from having mandatory isolation throughout the country, to being in an opening where there are prohibitions," said Palacios. Enditem
