Measures to implement before the possible arrival of the Coronavirus in Colombia

The Ministry of Labor, through Circular No. 0017, established the minimum guidelines to be implemented in the promotion and prevention for the preparation, response and care of cases of Covid-19 disease, known as Coronavirus:

1. Strategies to be followed by employers and recruiters.

Employers, contractors, dependent workers and contractors shall comply with the following prevention and promotion measures in the event of the possible introduction of COVID-19 cases in Colombia:

1.1 The employer and contractor shall establish timely communication channels, in the face of the notification of suspected cases of COVID-19, to the competent health authorities (District, Departmental or Municipal Health Secretariat).

1.2 The provision of this information must be timely and truthful, allowing an articulated work with the District, Departmental and Municipal Secretariats, recognizing them as a competent Health authority, and must allow the development of the procedures established by these authorities in the work centers, in the event of suspected cases of COVID-19.

1.3 The employer and contractor shall have an established notification route in place that includes contact information for the District, Departmental or Municipal Secretary.

1.4 Apply the protocols, procedures and guidelines defined by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, in relation to the preparation, response and care of COVID-19 disease cases.

1.5 Employers and contractors must guarantee the timely and permanent dissemination of all bulletins and official communications issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Ministry of Labor, and the National Institute of Health, regarding the guidelines for the preparedness, response and care of cases of COVID-19 disease in Colombia.

1.6 Dependent workers and contractors should be informed about the generalities and guidelines given by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection regarding alarm symptoms, guidelines and protocols for preparedness and response to the eventual introduction of COVID-19 cases in the country.

1.7 Employers and contractors must follow the guidelines, recommendations and advice provided by the Labor Risk Administrators -ARL- regarding promotion and prevention for preparedness, response and care in cases of COVID-19 disease.

1.8 Employers and contractors of the different occupations, in which there may be a higher risk of contact with suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection (workers at points of entry to the country: port, airport and migration personnel, Health Care Providers Institutions, Health Promotion Entities, cleaning and general services personnel, among others), must: identify, prevent and control the risk, as well as apply the prevention and control measures, adopted according to the hierarchical scheme established in article 224. 624. of Decree 1072 of 2015.

1.9 Employers and contractors must provide the Personal Protection Elements according to the specific recommendations in accordance with the guidelines defined by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, for the prevention of contagion.

1.10 In all cases, cleaning, prevention and self-care measures must be reinforced in the workplace.

1.11 Employers and contractors should train workers on proper hand washing techniques and promote frequent hand washing; provide workers with soap or other disinfectant substances for proper hand washing, as well as disposable towels for drying hands.

1.12 Keep work surfaces, telephones, computer equipment and other work devices and equipment frequently used by workers clean.

1.13 Require workers not to share personal protective equipment.

1.14 Disseminate official information on Covid-19, published on the website of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection https://vww.minsalud.qov.co/salud/publicaJPET/Paainas/Nuevo-Coronavirus-nCoV.aspx.

Employers and contractors with workers coming from China, who do not present respiratory symptoms should follow the following recommendations during the 14 days following their arrival in the country:

1.15 Use, when possible, the telework strategy for these workers, under the terms defined in the regulations in force.

1.16 Minimize meetings and encourage communication by virtual means that do not involve direct person-to-person interaction; when meetings are essential, they should be promoted.

use of rooms with adequate ventilation and maintain a minimum distance of one meter between attendees. Likewise, reduce or eliminate unnecessary social interactions.

1.17 Report to the Territorial Health Directorate, District, Departmental or Municipal Health Secretary or to the worker's Health Promoting Entity (EPS), if the worker presents fever, cough or difficulty breathing among other symptoms, and direct him/her to medical attention in the health services network assigned by his/her EPS.

1.18 Recommend workers not to use other workers' work equipment.

1.19 If the worker attends to the public, evaluate the possibility of temporary relocation or reassignment of tasks during the first 14 days after arrival.

2. Responsibility of employees.

2.1 Workers must comply with the prevention measures adopted in the work centers by the employer or contractor.

2.2 Attend training sessions conducted by the employer, contractor, or the Occupational Risk Management entity, for which they must obtain the necessary permits or licenses from the respective employer, cooperative, association or association, as the case may be. 2.2 Put into practice hygiene techniques, healthy habits and handwashing.

2.3 Use personal protection equipment and be responsible for the proper use of such equipment.

2.4 Workers are responsible for taking care of their health (self-care) and providing clear, truthful and complete information on their health status.

Workers coming from China, who do not present respiratory symptoms, must follow the following minimum recommendations during the 14 days following their arrival in the country:

  • Inform the employer or contractor of the dates and places of stay in China.
  • Take and record their temperature with a thermometer at least twice a day.
  • Be attentive to the presence of respiratory symptoms and fever during this period of 14 days, counted from the arrival in the country. Wash your hands frequently.
  • If you have fever, cough or difficulty breathing use a surgical mask and seek medical attention in the health services network assigned by your EPS, informing your symptoms and details about dates and places of stay or residence in China.

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