With a view to effective control of health measures put in place among other preventive actions implemented due to the risk of expansion of the coronavirus or COVID-19, on Monday March 16 the President of Paraguay issued Decree No. 3456 declaring a health emergency throughout national territory.
The decree authorizes the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare to order general preventive isolation of persons for health reasons, during the hours from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. Persons violating this measure can be penalized with imprisonment for 12 to 18 months and a fine ranging from 8 to 40 million guaranis.
The decree excludes preventive isolation for public and private sector night workers. Such employees must carry their identification documents with them, along with the pertinent evidence issued by the company they work for.
Additionally, Decree No. 3465 was issued on March 17, expanding on article 3 of Decree No. 3458 of March 16, 2020, which had ordered partial temporary closing of migration control posts at borders. With this addition the General Migration Office, upon conducting migration controls at the border posts authorized for land entries, in addition to only permitting entry of members of diplomatic missions, international organizations, Paraguayan citizens and foreign Paraguay residents, will also restrict exit of persons from national territory.