The Bolivian Government determined a series of both general and labor measures aimed to prevent and contain the spread of the Covid- 19 in our country. The following measures were considered:
GENERAL MEASURES:
Various measures were determined through legal provisions gradually issued by communiqués through i) official information media (government web pages, apps and links enabled by the government); and ii) press conferences held by government authorities.
Provisions and communications issued by the Government:
• On March 12, 2020 the Ministry of Labor issued the Supreme Decree No. 4179 which stablishes the following matters:
o Declares national emergency due to Covid-19.
o Authorizes institutions, public entities and autonomous territorial entities to make budgetary adjustments to attend this national emergency.
o It empowers the Ministries that are part of CONARADE – The
National Council for Risk Reduction and Attention to Disasters and Emergencies to request the Ministry of Economy to allocate resources in the 2020 national emergency plan.
• Communiqué No. 1 of March 10, 2020 from the Ministry of Health:
o This communiqué confirms Covid-19 cases in the country.
Communiqué No. 2 of March 11, 2020 from the Ministry of Health. This communiqué which establishes:
o Social isolation for fourteen days to avoid the probability of spreading the disease.
o For people who show symptoms during this period is mandatory to attend a health facility.
o Avoid participating in activities in which there is social agglomeration.
• Communiqué No. 3 of March 11, 2020 from the Ministry of Health which stablishes:
o Surveillance at airports, borders and terminals for the timely detection of possible suspected cases.
o Reminds people that the National Center for Tropical Diseases – CENETROP, performs free rapid diagnosis.
• Communiqué No. 4 of March 11, 2020 of the Ministry of Health which establishes
o General aspects related to Covid-19 regarding: i) the possibility of preventing the virus, ii) the percentage of affectation in the most vulnerable people and groups, iii) the main symptoms (fever, cough and difficulty breathing), iv) aspects related with the use of the chinstrap, v) recommendation to visit the official pages of the Ministry of Health to obtain reliable information regarding the virus and vi) recommendation to the general public to keep themselves informed on a frequent basis through reliable sources.
Communiqué No. 5 of March 13, 2020 of the Ministry of Health, which establishes:
o As of March 13, 2020, there are 10 confirmed cases, 7 suspected cases, and 11 discarded cases.
o Bolivia is in the scenario of local transmission, so containment measures are necessary, being important: i) isolate the sick; and ii) quarantine the contacts.
o Containment protocols, epidemiological surveillance and patient management are maintained.
• Communiqué No. 6 of March 14, 2020 of the Ministry of Health that establishes:
o As of March 14, 2020, there are 10 confirmed cases, 16 suspected cases, and 16 discarded cases.
o It is confirmed that Bolivia is in the local transmission scenario and the cases are concentrated in Oruro, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba.
• Communiqué No. 7 of March 14, 2020 of the Ministry of Health that establishes:
o In coordination with the Departmental Government and the WHO, measures that will be taken in Oruro from March 16, 2020 are as follows: i) prohibition of entry of fleets and public transport for 14 days; ii) continuous staggered schedule; iii) suspension of trade fairs; iv) transportation step for food will be on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; and v) supply hours from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. on those days.
• Communiqué No. 8 of March 15, 2020 of the Ministry of Health that establishes:
o Until March 15, 2020, there were 11 confirmed cases, and 22 discarded cases.
o The most important recommendations in the cities of Oruro, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba is to maintain the isolation of people with coronavirus and quarantine contacts.
o The active line for inquiries that will work 24 hours a day and 7 days a week is 800 10 1104.
• Communiqué of March 15, 2020 of the Ministry of Government, that establishes:
o The official applications to collect information, receive alerts and how to fight the Covid-19.
o These applications are: i) IOS: bit.ly/covidbolios; and ii) ANDROID: bit.ly/covidboand.
• Circular CM-CDR No. 005/2020 of March 16, 2020, which establishes:
o Continuous work hours of Hrs. 8:00 to 14:00 in the entire judicial body from March 16, 2020 to March 31, 2020 in the 9 districts.
• On March 17, 2020, the Ministerial Cabinet issued the Supreme Decree No 4192, which stablishes:
o Continuous working hours from 08:00 to 16:00, until March 31,2002, except for public servants and deprived of the health service. This schedule is subject to be extended.
o Social, cultural, sports and religious gatherings with more than 100 people crowded are prohibited.
o Activities and events that take place in discos, bars, cinemas, sports venues, gyms and amusement parks are prohibited. Entry by airspace travelers from Schengen, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iran, China and South Korea is prohibited from Wednesday March 18, 2020, with the exception of Bolivian citizens who are returning.
o The tariff levy differs for the import of supplies, medicines, medical devices, equipment, reagents and fiber detectors, related to Covid-19, until December 31,2020.
Measures communicated through press conferences:
• Communications until Saturday, March 14, 2020:
o Suspend classes across the country (schools and universities) from March 12 to March 31, 2020.
o Suspend flights to and from Europe, as well as the entry of passengers from China, South Korea, Spain and Italy, from Saturday March 14, 2020 with no date set for the reactivation of such trips.
o Strictly follow the medical care protocol established by the WHO, regarding people who enter Bolivian territory.
o Control people entering through borders.
o Ban public events that concentrate more than a thousand people.
o Create the Government Cabinet for the attention of the coronavirus.
o Enable in the city of Santa Cruz and progressively in the capital cities, plus the city of El Alto in La Paz, the infrastructure for exclusive attention to Covid-19 cases.
o Intensify actions to avoid the increasement in the prices of medical supplies.
• Communication made on Sunday, March 15, 2020:
o To allocate 10% of the national budget to health.
o Summon the presidential candidates to join forces in the fight against the Covid-19.
o Convene the Cabinet for Monday, March 16, 2020, to: i) discuss the application of the new measures taken (detailed below) and ii) analyze the possibility of new measures.
o Request: i) the population to be at home and leave as little as possible; ii) the media to help in such a way that there is no panic in the population and report on how to prevent contagion; iii) the Armed Forces and the police to be alert to support the population; iv) employers, work together and meet to implement measures to help families who will suffer economic impacts, such as the flexibility of work permits and measures to help small and medium entrepreneurs.
o Starting Monday, March 16, 2020, the following are mandatory:
Apply continuous working hours in the public and private sectors.
Ban all kinds of meetings: i) parties; ii) discos; iii) bars; iv) cinemas; v) massive sporting events; vi) gym; vii) amusement parks; and ix) night activities in event centers.
Only a maximum of 100 people are permitted to gather in the same space.
Eliminate all import duties for medications, fever detectors and donations related to the Covid-19.
o Starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the following are mandatory:
Prohibit the entry of travelers from Europe and Iran. Bolivian residents returning to the country who must pass the WHO procedures are excluded from what is stated in the preceding point.
Communication made on Monday, 17,2020, through press conference held by the acting president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Jeannine Añez. The following measures were implemented:
Within the following 48 hours borders will be closed.
In 72 hours international flights will be suspended.
In 72 hours interdepartmental transport by land will be prohibited.
From tomorrow the continuous work hours will be reduced from 8:00 to 13:00.
From tomorrow supermarkets will be open only until 15:00.
From tomorrow every kind of land transport will be only permitted until 16:00.
From tomorrow there will be vehicular restriction from 18:00 to 5:00.
LABOR MEASURES
The Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health issued the Bi- Ministerial Resolution No. 01/20 of March 13, 2020, which aims to regulate the actions of prevention and containment of the Covid-19 in the workplace.
General considerations:
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The application of this standard is mandatory for employers and workers in both private and public sector.
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To prevent the spread of the Covid-19, the Ministry of Health, the Departmental Health Services and the autonomous territorial entities must coordinate with employers as follows:
o Carry out an analysis of the diagnosed patient's environment and recent activities, in order to identify suspected cases of Covid-19.
o If there are suspected cases identified and undiagnosed: i) these workers must be immediately isolated in their homes; ii) the employer must communicate this situation to the corresponding health authority so that it establishes the corresponding period of observation and isolation; and iii) those cases that have alarm signs should be sent to the corresponding health facilities.
Employers' obligations:
• Take health promotion measures to prevent and contain the coronavirus inside your establishment:
o Provide disinfectant or antibacterial products.
o Disseminate, promote and implement personal hygiene
measures.
o Implement biosecurity measures.
o Distribute and disseminate promotional material issued by the health authorities.
o Manage mechanisms for the prompt attention of its workers in the establishments of the National Health System.
o Grant temporary exceptional leave at their source of employment to workers who are suspected cases.
• In order to prevent the spread of Covid-19, implement special working conditions (continuous working hours, videoconferences, video calls, work shift modifications among others) in favor of older adults, pregnant women, chronically ill patients, immunosuppressed patients and other groups of risk. The aforementioned measures are illustrative and not limiting, so the employer may implement other types of measures to guarantee the welfare of these workers.
Labor rights for suspected people and people infected with Covid-19:
• Infected Covid-19 people:
o Take medical leave for as long as the competent authority has. The withdrawal time may be extended when the treating doctor and the health authority deem it convenient.
To accredit the medical leave, the employer must request the medical certificate issued by the establishments authorized by the health authority.
• Suspected Covid-19 people:
o Enjoy an exceptional leave with assets for the duration of the observation and isolation measure established by the competent authority. The time of the permit may be extended when the treating doctor and the health authority deem it convenient.
o To prove exceptional leave, the employer must request the medical certificate issued by establishments authorized by the health authority.
o This permit is not subject to discount or other compensation measures.
Also, the Ministry of Labor issued:
• Communiqué No. 07/2020 of March 11, 2020, in which it instructed private sector companies and public institutions to comply with the following:
o Develop protocols for the prevention of the spread of coronavirus.
o Communicate to workers and public officials: i) the protocol developed; and ii) the prevention and personal hygiene measures that must be assumed (hand washing, use of gel alcohol, use of personal protective equipment, and others that are considered relevant according to the category and economic activity.
o Implement mechanisms to identify possible cases of Covid-19 transmission, examination.
Apply biosafety protocols in companies in the manufacturing area of: i) food and ii) personal hygiene supplies. These protocols must consider the use of personal protective equipment and appropriate clothing to avoid contagion in the most vulnerable population.
o That the human resources units in each private company and public institutions:
Manage the necessary mechanisms to guarantee prompt and timely attention in the health management entities to which affiliates of the personnel identified as a possible carrier of coronavirus are found, and for the processing of the corresponding medical leave.
Choose other mechanisms for work assistance such as: i) video calls, ii) modification of work shifts, iii) home office, and iv) others deemed relevant according to the category.
Manage the necessary mechanisms to guarantee prompt and timely attention in the health management entities to which affiliates of the personnel identified as a possible carrier of coronavirus are found, and for the processing of the corresponding medical leave.
Choose other mechanisms for work assistance such as: i) video calls, ii) modification of work shifts, iii) home office, and iv) others deemed relevant according to the category.
• Communiqué No. 08/2020 of March 16, 2020, in which it provides: o The mandatory implementation of continuous working hours from Hrs. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the public and private sector starting Monday, March 16, 2020, until Tuesday, March 31, 2020. This measure can be extended if necessary
In application of Bi-Ministerial Resolution No. 01 / 20 of March 13, 2020 issued by the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health, those companies in which work shifts are applied, the hours may be exceptionally maintained, for which employers and citizens must adopt measures for the prevention and containment of the Covid-19.
o In those companies in which a labor agreement is signed with the workers or the Union for the modification of the work shifts that comprise the workday, the Ministry of Labor will respect these agreements that are mandatory for those who sign it. Likewise, they must take into account the provisions of Bi- Ministerial Resolution No. 01/20 of March 13, 2020.
Ratifies that the Bi Ministerial Resolution No. 01/20 of March 13, 2020, is mandatory.
Taking into account that the Government is taking measures related to the prevention and containment of the Covid-19 permanently, this alert will be continuously updated to keep our clients informed.
Please find attached the norms and communications indicated in this document.