CHILE reporting in, we have a “phase system” depending on how many cases are in your “communa” (area). It goes from 1-5, one being the most restrictive.
We are back in phase one for all of the city of Santiago (there is Santiago the city then Santiago the communa) as of 5am tomorrow. My communa was phase two which meant freedom M-F 5am -10pm, restaurants were open outdoors with a max of four per table, up to five (I think) people could come to your dwelling M-F, no permits during the week. Permits needed to shop (only groceries, no department stores or anything) on the weekends and no one could visit.
Phase one means you cannot leave you dwelling without a permit, you get two a week for two hours each, you can only use one on the weekend. Masks at all times, even outside, all playgrounds, public spaces, cinemas etc closed. Take away delivery only. You can also get medical permits to see your doctor and a few other types, you have to upload proof of an appointment. If you have a child with special needs you can get a permit to take them outside for a couple of hours each day, with a doctors note.
Got a dog? Want to go for a walk or bike ride? You can exercise it in the morning without a permit but cannot mix with others from 7-9am. Masks on. I’m not sure if as of tomorrow that’s allowed.
Vaccine rate? 75,8% of the population over 22 have had their first shot. 58,5% over 22 have also had their second shot. If you are undocumented you cannot get the vaccine, this is driving me crazy, I’m my opinion it’s one of the biggest causes of spreading as these people are generally quite poor and live in less than stellar dwellings with multiple people, to say the least. I feel for them and know of a few “underground vaccines places” but many are too scared to go. I’m my personal opinion I don’t think the government really cares about them or the poor the last health minister said something like “I didn’t even know poor people lived they way they do”. My Spanish is ok but I can’t give you a 100% translation of what he said, that the gist.
The thing is about Santiago is it’s a economically disjunct city. For instance I live in a neighbourhood that houses most of the embassies and diplomatic residences/multinational offices, it’s so clean and safe, drive 20 minutes? I’m in an incredibly poor area with lots of multi family homes and people who live day to day, they’d rather risk the fines and go out to work, they couldn’t afford the fines anyway, I don’t blame them. Drive 20 minutes the other way and it’s full of gated mansion communities like you’d find in very wealthy areas of California with 24/7 security, just without the beach!
Also clandestine parties have been happening before the vaccine rollout but the police won’t break them up in my area of my communa as they are too worried it will be a diplómat or someone too powerful. Yes, I’m looking at my neighbours who have partied their way though covid…many have a diplomatic pass so the rules don’t apply.
We live in a good size apartment with a large terrace which is now a mix of a soft play area and my husband’s “office”. The building also has a pool and large garden, gym and movie theatre - all closed. We used to be able to book the gym, movie area, pool and garden by hour but now that is banned.
The border is shut unless with a special permit, it will be kept shut for the foreseeable future.
This comes off the back of major political unrest in 2019 where the military were on the streets fully armed, a curfew and then we kind of drifted into covid - it’s not been easy. If you’d like to read more you can here en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019–2021_Chilean_protests
Many of our friends have been pulled out by their companies, I’d say 80% have left. Almost every American expat (those only supposed to be here for 2-3 years) as opposed to immigrants have left excluding embassy staff and a few CEO’s.
Honestly we have it so good compared to many here, I have an app that allows me to use a “shopper” who has a work permit to go and shop for me, if planned well I put the order in at 8am and get it by 2pm at the latest. They added a tipping function so I tip big as I know they are badly paid and risking their lives, I’d suggest many are undocumented thus unvaccinated by no fault of their own. They leave my order with my doorman/woman and he/she calls me to come down after the delivery has arrives. So the permits don’t really bother me because I have the luxury of paying for these services.
This is already too long but I’ve had my first Pfizer two weeks ago, I accessed it (it’s in short supply here) as opposed to the Sinovac as my doctor wrote me a note. I’ll go back next week to get the second. Then wait three weeks and will be eligible for a “mobility pass” which means I don’t need a permit, do need a mask and can’t meet with others.