On March 21, 2020, the Executive Body of the Republic of El Salvador, through its Health Branch, has issued a decree declaring the entire national territory subject to sanitary controls and temporarily restraining the right to free transit and assembly with the only objective to contain the pandemic COVID-19 and reduce the negative impact on the health of the population.

As a general measure, freedom of movement is restrained on national territory for the next thirty days, commencing on the day the decree is published on the National Gazette.

Furthermore, the following are exceptions to the above mentioned rule:

1. Regarding people:

• One person per family will be allowed to go out for shopping (medicines, groceries, and essential home things) two times a week. People needing to go to an assistance center will also be allowed to go;
• People that need to move to their workplace in the cases allowed by the decree;
• People dedicated to the assistance of children, elders, people with disabilities, or vulnerable to chronic diseases;
• People that work in the financial system;
• People that work in the health system, including pharmacies personnel, duly identified;
• People out due to causes of force majeure or that an emergency makes them move from place to place;
• Public employees that have to collaborate with the COVID-19 measures, duly identified and authorized by the person in charge of the office;
• Members of municipal councils, civil protection, and administrative employees, including cemeteries, municipal market (limited to the products contained in the “Canasta Basica”);
• Magistrates, judges, and employees of courts that according to the normative cannot be deferred in their functions, which includes employees of the Forensics Institute;
• People that work in the distribution of first-hand products;
• Deputies and employees of the Legislative Assembly and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal; and
• People that transport merchandise. Mainly, food supply, even more, if it is first-hand food.

2. Regarding activities:

• Services of the textile industry and those dedicated to the production of goods and services used in health and that are necessary for subsistence the emergency, and the population needs;
• Call centers that sell food delivery services, attention of airlines, electricity and telecommunication services, bank, finance, and medical services;
• Security services, gas stations, public passenger transportation cut to half of its ordinary capacity, taxis, and private transportation services;
• Water distribution service and the necessary activities for the maintenance of services, postal and courier services;
• Agriculture, cattle, and apiculture and its distribution chain;
• Financial services; and
• Health services (excepting dental care services), veterinarian services in case of emergency, and the supply chain of these services.

Companies carrying out any kind of activity without authorization will be shut indeterminably.