Monday, The Venezuelan Ministry Commerce and Tourism expanded on the details of the measures and regulations that new sectors, authorized to reopen by President Nicolás Maduro, must comply with as part of the third phase of the 7+7 Plus reopening plan.
Minister for Commerce Eneida Laya specified that the food sector (supermarkets, supplies, warehouses) must guarantee its activities until 6:00 in the afternoon.
Regarding the other sectors, she detailed:
- Furniture stores, party stores (pinaterias), candy stores, jewelry stores, pawn shops, flower shops and vivariums, perfumeries: they can open from 9:00 in the morning until 3:00 in the afternoon. They must comply with biosecurity standards to avoid COVID-19 infections. Its capacity must not exceed 40% of the establishment’s capacity.
- Liquor stores: they will work from 1:00 to 6:00 pm and will only provide take out. These establishments must comply with biosecurity standards to avoid contagion of Covid-19.
- Drive-in cinemas and outdoor activities: they will work between 5:00 in the afternoon and 10:00 at night. They must comply with biosecurity standards to avoid contagion of COVID-19 and their capacity must not exceed 40% of the establishment’s capacity.
- Public events in open places: They can be held only on Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 12:00 pm. They must comply with biosafety regulations to avoid contagion of COVID-19. They are allowed inside cars or in any format that maintains healthy distancing, capacity must not exceed 40% of the establishment’s capacity.
- Restaurants, cafeterias, ice cream parlors and the like: The “take away” service remains, in compliance with the established biosecurity measures.
- Discos, pubs and bars, as well as cinemas and theaters are kept in radical quarantine (they will not work yet).
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On the other hand, the strategic sectors of public agencies were also activated, such as the National Institute of Land Transportation (INTT), Administrative Service for Identification, Migration and Immigration (SAIME), Autonomous Service of Intellectual Property (SAPI), National Superintendence for the Defense of the Socioeconomic Rights of Venezuela (Sundde), Corpoelec and CANTV, all of which will serve users from 8:00 in the morning to 1:00 in the afternoon, respecting biosafety standards, at a capacity that must not exceed 40% of the office’s capacity; and with a maximum of 40% of the workers, on a rotating basis.
Regarding the commercial sectors associated with tourism, Minister Félix Plasencia explained that:
- Bed & breakfast and hotels: The restaurant service should only be provided in the rooms.
- Beaches, spas and clubs: they will work from 7:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon, they must comply with biosafety regulations to avoid COVID-19 infections and their capacity must not exceed 40% of the capacity of the establishment.
- Amusement and theme parks: they will work from 2:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon, they must comply with biosecurity regulations to avoid COVID-19 infections and their capacity must not exceed 40% of the capacity of the establishment.
- Cable cars: they will work from 9:00 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon, they must comply with biosecurity regulations to avoid COVID-19 infections and their capacity must not exceed 40% of the capacity of the establishment.
- In the case of beaches, tourist and related spaces, it’s necessary that the responsible authorities develop the conditions of use, in order to respect the biosecurity standards and avoid the spread of the virus; so healthy, social distancing must be guaranteed for small family groups, in respect of biosecurity protocols.
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It is important to note that extra-urban surface transport, and private aviation services, were not authorized to operate yet.
“Respect for social distancing and biosafety protocols will guarantee that these sectors remain active,” Minister Laya explained.
Likewise, Plasencia reported that before the pandemic, more than 10 million Venezuelans moved through the national territory, so this measure of responsible and serious flexibility will allow reactivation of the transportation sector, at the same time allowing people some enjoyment, exercise, prevention, and care, prior to Christmas holidays.
Featured image: Ministers Eneida Laya (Commerce) and Felix Placencia (Tourism). Photo by AVN.
Translation: OT/JRE/SL
