EL SALVADOR: NATIONAL QUARANTINE DECREE

Dear Clients and Friends:

ROMERO PINEDA informs you that on Saturday, March 21, 2020, the Executive Body in the Health Branch issued decree No. 12, referring to the EXTRAORDINARY PREVENTION AND CONTAINMENT MEASURES TO DECLARE THE NATIONAL TERRITORY AS AN AREA SUBJECT TO SANITARY CONTROL, IN ORDER TO CONTAIN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC which establishes that all natural and legal persons and public institutions must comply National Quarantine, so no person will be able to circulate or gather in the territory of the republic, except for the exceptions indicated in the decree, in order to prevent the spread of COVID 19.

These are the main considerations to keep in mind:

• The decree will be applicable for 30 days, as of its publication in the Official Gazette, that is, as of Sunday, March 21, 2020.
• The decree establishes that all natural and legal persons and public institutions must comply with national quarantine (also called home quarantine), hence No person may circulate or meet in the territory of the republic, except for the exceptions indicated in the decree, in order to prevent the spread of COVID 19.
• The following people are excepted according to article 2:
  1. The people who are in charge of obtaining food, medicine and other things necessary for their supply. (Only one person from the family may leave and only 2 times a week. If another person who is not authorized leaves or leaves more than 2 times, this person will be detained and transferred to quarantine).
  2. Those people who travel to their workplace to perform work in companies that are authorized in the decree.
  3. People who assist in the care of children, older adults or people who need special attention and care.
  4. People who must travel to financial and insurance entities.
  5. Duly identified employees of health departments as well as pharmacy, medical personnel and nurses.
  6. Public officials who perform tasks related to combating the emergency.
  7. People who provide home delivery services for food and basic necessities.
  8. Armed force, police, ambulances and public officials and employees authorized by the heads of each one to provide services aimed at combating the pandemic.
  9. People who work in cargo vehicles for transporting merchandise and distributing merchandise and who are part of the supply and food chain and essential necessities, as well as importers and exporters of merchandise.

All those workers of private sector companies that are authorized to continue operating, you must carry your ID card and one employer's letter authorizing your mobility between your home and workplace.

• Furthermore, article 3 exempts the following activities, which may continue to operate when they provide services to the Salvadoran population:
  1. Textile industry services that work with spinning, finishing textiles and those whose purpose is to produce goods and services that can be used for health or subsistence in emergencies, as well as food, cleaning products, toilet paper and other similar products.
  2. Call centers dedicated to the sale and distribution of food, airline services, electricity services, communication, financial banking services and medical services.
  3. Security Services, gas stations, passenger transportation at half operational capacity, taxi, private transportation and cargo transportation of any category and means of communication.
  4. Drinking water distribution services, postal services, couriers and parcels.
  5. Agriculture, livestock, beekeeping, fisheries, agribusiness and its distribution chain.
  6. Financial services such as banks, credit unions, and savings societies and insurance and securitization services. Also stock market boxes and stock and product boxes.
  7. Public and private laboratory services for health services as well as hospitals, clinics except dental clinics, and veterinary services only in emergencies and others related to health, and their distribution chain.

All companies authorized to continue operating must follow hygiene protocols and implement social distancing of at least one square meter, to prevent contagion.

• Any person found anywhere without proper justification, She will be taken to a containment center to determine quarantine and will face criminal and civil liability..

• Any person who is detained and who indicates that he or she is going to a place that he or she cannot prove must sign an affidavit provided by the authorities.
• For companies that operate and are not authorized in accordance with the provisions of this decree, the temporary closure of said companies

For more information and legal assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to contact ROMERO PINEDA at (503) 2505-5555 or email info@romeropineda.com

It will be a pleasure for us to serve you.