El Salvador opens economy after Supreme Court ruling

The economic reopening begins in El Salvador 1:57

(CNN Spanish) -  As of this Monday there is no legal restriction to carry out the different economic activities in El Salvador, although the government recommends that the population not neglect hygiene measures to reduce the risk of contagion by covid- 19.

The economic reactivation in the Central American country is given after on August 7 the Supreme Court of Justice declared unconstitutional the five reopening phases that the government had designed. The highest court gave the government until August 23 to negotiate a law to regulate the restrictions with the Legislative Assembly. Term that expired this Monday.

Due to the increase in cases, the government had twice suspended going from phase one, the one with the greatest restrictions, to phase two.

Public passenger transport, paralyzed since mid-March, was one of the sectors that began to operate from this Monday, although on the recommendation of the Ministry of Health it must transport only seated people, provide alcohol gel, and passengers and the driver must wear face masks or masks.

The government, in disagreement with the full reactivation of the economy, complains of not having legal tools to guarantee compliance with the recommendations of the health authorities.

The National Civil Police with the support of the Ministry of Health installed vehicle controls in the main cities to verify compliance with hygiene protocols.

"What we can do is only recommend to people that they use a mask, that they have alcohol gel, that they guarantee social distancing, which is extremely important to avoid the spread of this disease," Romeo Rodríguez, Minister of Public Works, told CNN.

For its part, the San Salvador mayor's office is delivering hygiene kits to people and has also formed brigades to disinfect bus stops and public transport units in order to reduce the possibility of contagion.

"To the extent that we protect ourselves and other people, we will avoid another closure and we will be able to achieve that balance that achieves the economic reactivation of our country and that the safety of the health of our people is always kept", Ernesto Muyshondt, mayor of the capital, assured CNN.

As of this Monday the shopping centers opened their doors and the restaurants enabled table service.

"Food handling is done by a single person in the kitchen, the plate is wrapped so that the same customer uncovers his own plate when eating food," Luis Ibarra, manager of the San Martín bakery and restaurant, explained to CNN.

“The people who visit us must live under the same roof so they can use one of our tables. Between one table and another there are at least two meters to guarantee social distancing, "added Ibarra.

But not all sectors opened their doors. The recreational parks administered by the government and the movie theaters will be enabled as of September 19, the government explained in separate statements.

Until this Monday, El Salvador reported 669 people who died from causes related to the new coronavirus and 24,811 confirmed cases, according to official figures.