Through a resolution of July 29, 2020, the government emergency committee (COE) decided to continue with the general measures specific to each color of July’s traffic light system in August. However, special rules were issued for the yellow districts of Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Chimborazo, Bolívar, Cañar, Azuay, Loja Santo Domingo, Esmeraldas, Sucumbíos, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Morona Santiago and Zamora Chinchipe.
Special provisions for the yellow districts of the abovementioned provinces from July 31 to August 12:
- Curfew from 9pm to 5am from Monday to Thursday and from 7pm to 5am from Friday to Sunday.
- Delivery services will be permitted until 10pm.
- The sale of alcohol is prohibited from Friday to Sunday, except for category 4 restaurants authorized by the Ministry of the Interior, and tourist restaurants authorized by the Ministry of Tourism, only as an accompanying drink.
- All kinds of social gatherings are prohibited.
General traffic light system rules:
Red:
- Curfew from 6pm to 5am.
- Private vehicles and motorbikes are allowed on the roads 2 days a week from Monday to Friday. Driving is not allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.
- Taxis and vehicles that transport light and mixed loads are allowed on the roads from Monday to Saturday according to the last license plate number, even or odd; on Sundays they are allowed on the road without restrictions.
- Institutional transport is permitted every day without license plate restrictions, complying with all protocols established for this sector.
- Urban transport is permitted according to the restrictions established by each Municipal Decentralized Autonomous Government (GAD).
- Besides scheduled surgeries and health and social protection programs for vulnerable groups, outpatient medical appointments are authorized for all medical specialties.
- Interprovincial transport is not permitted.
- In-person work and commercial activity is resumed at 30% capacity.
- Social gatherings are prohibited.
- Lawyers can travel using their credentials as a qualifying document.
Yellow:
- Curfew from 11pm to 5am.
- Private vehicles are allowed on the roads according to the last number on their license plate: odd numbers: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; even numbers: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Vehicles with an odd last plate number are allowed on the road on Sundays August 2, 16 and 30, and vehicles with an even last plate number are allowed on the road on Sundays August 9 and 23.
- Conventional and executive taxis, vehicles that transport light and mixed loads, and institutional transport are allowed on the roads every day without license plate restrictions.
- Urban transport and authorized intra-provincial and interprovincial transport are allowed at 50% capacity between districts in the same stage: yellow or green as applicable.
- Sea and river passenger transport is allowed at 50% capacity.
- Tourist sea transport with authorized overnight stay is permitted in compliance with biosafety protocols.
- Tourist land transport is allowed, respecting the protocols established for this activity.
- Shopping malls and restaurants, as well as in-person work activities, are allowed at 50% of the allowed capacity. In Quito, in-person work activities are allowed at 25% capacity in the public sector.
- Wakes with up to 25 people are authorized.
- Social or executive meetings with a maximum of 25 people are authorized.
- The opening of cinemas and theatres at 30% capacity is authorized; except for Quito, where these establishments remain closed.
- Activities in archaeological sites, zoos, museums, national parks (except for Yasuní National Park) is authorized, at 30% capacity.
- Training activities in indoor swimming pools in closed spaces may be resumed respecting biosafety protocols and the guidelines issued by the COE.
Green:
- Curfew is eliminated.
- 70% of private vehicles are allowed on the roads from Monday to Sunday, depending on the last license plate number.
- Conventional and executive taxis, vehicles that transport light and mixed loads, and institutional transport are allowed on the roads every day.
- Urban transport is permitted at 50% capacity.
- Intra-provincial transport is authorized; Interprovincial transport is authorized only between districts in yellow or green stages that have agreed on the service provision.
- Restaurants and shopping malls are open to the public at 50% capacity.
- Pilot plan: gyms previously approved by the COE will be able to resume activities.
- Wakes are authorized with up to 25 people.
- Social or executive meetings with up to 25 people are authorized.
Mandatory national rules:
- It is the responsibility of individuals, families and groups to adopt preventive measures to control the pandemic: voluntary isolation when symptoms appear, as well as maintaining social distance, using masks and frequent hand washing.
- All work, family and community spaces must implement and comply with bio-sanitary measures.
- Land borders remain closed.
- In-person classes at all educational levels remain suspended.
- Extreme precautions are recommended for people over 60 and groups vulnerable to infection.
- The issuance of safe conducts is maintained in accordance with the “Protocol for the Issuance and Control of Safe Conducts” (Version 4).
- The opening and operation of bars, discotheques, karaoke bars, nightclubs, billiard clubs, children’s entertainment centers and any other place where social distancing is not guaranteed remains prohibited.
- Physical activities in enclosed spaces remain restricted except for pilot plans approved by the COE for districts in the green stage. Individual activities are authorized in open places, according to the guidelines issued by the COE.
- Public events in open and enclosed spaces as well as crowds remain prohibited.
- Beaches can be opened from August 5, 2020 with the implementation of the video surveillance system “Distancia2” of ECU911.
- Lawyers can travel using their credentials as a qualifying document.
Editorial Board
