María Paula Romo: Construction sector in Ecuador will be reactivated with a ‘pilot plan’

Ecuador will continue in isolation. The Government Minister, María Paula Romo , made it official this Friday, April 17, 2020 and announced the exclusive reactivation of two economic sectors with ” pilot projects strictly reviewed by the COE ” as of Monday, April 20. For the rest of the country, the measures of restriction and quarantine  is maintained, he said.

Romo reported that the COE decided the pilot reactivation of the ” construction sector ”  and that “the operation of companies that produce or commercialize office supplies and stationery is authorized ,” to meet demand in the health emergency.

The pilot project for the construction sector will allow workers to work in shifts and their symptoms will be monitored . “They will be specific projects , tomorrow (Saturday 18) we will review them one by one at the COE, to make way for pilot projects in the construction sector to begin operating next week,” said the Minister.

Romo insisted that this ” does not mean that everyone in the sector can resume their activities . Only those who have special authorization may do so after reviewing the protocols . ” The projects “will serve as an indicator to open new sectors of industry or commerce, ” he assured.

A similar measure will apply to companies that produce or market office and stationery supplies. “They will not open the doors of these businesses, will be at home with a regime with which we are now applying for food at home, with the same regime.”

Romo specified that supply orders  should be made ” remotely , either by phone or online ” and billing should also be online. The deliveries will be at home and those who performed must follow safety protocols . ”

Since last April 13, 2020 in Ecuador a traffic light system has been in force whose purpose is to apply restrictions by province according to how they are in terms of covid-19 infections . The whole country began in red , which means that restrictions on mobility and the suspension of the face workday remain, and will remain a week, Romo said chain on April 17.

The lifting of the restrictions, insisted the Minister, will be “gradual”. “A key element of decision making is the ability to do more tests and to have the results of these tests from both PCR and rapid tests,” said Romo.

Ecuador raised this April 17, 2020 the official number of infected from covid-19 to 8 450. 1 096 people have died in the context of the health emergency throughout the country. Of these, 421 deaths are due to confirmed cases of covid-19. Remaining 675 are suspected cases . The data was collected since March 13, 2020, when the first death in the country from the disease was reported .

https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/construccion-ecuador-plan-piloto-coronavirus.html