On July 3, 2020, Puerto Rico Governor Wanda Vázquez issued Executive Order No. 2020-052 establishing new requirements for tourists and passengers arriving Puerto Rico through the island’s airports as part of the measures taken to avoid further spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Puerto Rico. Executive Order 2020-52 will be effective from Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

Requirements for Passengers Arriving Puerto Rico Airports

Visitors and passengers arriving at any airport in Puerto Rico will be considered as a person with reasonable suspicion of having been exposed to COVID-19. All passengers will be required to:

(1)  fill out a traveler’s declaration, and

(2)  present a COVID-19 negative result from a qualified SARS-CoV2 molecular test conducted within 72 hours prior to arrival.

Quarantine Order

Passengers unable to present the required COVID-19 molecular test result upon arrival to Puerto Rico will be required to remain in quarantine for a period of 14 days in the place of destination reported in the required traveler’s declaration. Persons in quarantine shall not have contact or receive visits from any person, whether family or not, except visits from a health specialist for health monitoring purposes.  Passengers in quarantine must refrain from visiting any public space, including, but not limited to, restaurants, swimming pools, meeting rooms, or gyms; and should only go out for emergencies or medical care. Likewise, hosts of the places where passengers will be staying shall ensure that passengers comply with the guidelines established in the Executive Order.

Penalties for Non-compliance

Non-compliance with the provisions of EO 2020-052 by any person and/or company will be subject to the following penalties: (a) imprisonment that will not exceed six (6) months, or (b) a fine that will not exceed five thousand ($5,000) dollars, or (c) both penalties at the discretion of the court.

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