Medellin plans the “total” reopening of economic activities in the city gradually over the next four months, starting with restaurants, gyms and churches.

Mayor of Medellín, Daniel Quintero, announced on August 24 the “total” reopening of the economic activities of the city, gradually over a period of four months. This decision was made based on the good results obtained by the city in its fight against the COVID-19 virus.

This reopening of economic activities measure extends to the entire Aburrá Valley, since it has the support of the other nine metropolitan mayors, who signed the decree.

This week, an authorization for inter-municipal land transportation for 11 municipalities in the Southwest of Antioquia related to the coffee harvest begins to take effect. This measure has already been approved by the National Government and is expected to be extended to the entire department of Antioquia with the consent of the Ministry of the Interior.

Domestic flights from the Olaya Herrera Airport in Medellín and from José María Córdova Airport, in Rionegro have been approved by the Presidency of the Republic. And the first domestic flights from José María Córdova Airport were last week.

Furthermore, the last day of Pico y Cedula in the Aburrá Valley will be on August 30.

This announcement about reopening of economic activities in Medellín was on the same day as President Duque’s announcement on August 24 that the national quarantine in Colombia ends on September 1.

Parque Arví to open second week in September

Reopening of Economic Activities in Medellín

Starting on August 31, the opening of the restaurant sector in the Aburrá Valley is approved to start. And the first week of September the plan is to open gymnasiums. The restaurant and gym sectors generate at least 50,000 jobs in the Aburrá Valley.

The Smart Fit in Unicentro mall, plan is to open gyms the second week of September

Also the first week of September, churches will reopen.

The second week of September, open-air theaters and Plaza Mayor can open, which will be able to organize their first events. In addition, sports venues will be able to open. And the bike lanes and Parque Arvi, the Nutibara and El Volador hills, as well as motels will be operational again.

Churches to open first week in September

In the third week of September, the Parque Norte amusement park and casinos will open.

For the first week of October, the reopening of coliseums is authorized. And the third week of November, discotheques will open.

By December, the La Macarena Entertainment Center will open and the opening of the stadium will enable professional football (soccer) to return.

Parque Norte amusement park to open third week in September

Medellín Reopening of Economic Activities Schedule Summary

• August 31: pilot of reopening of the gastronomic sector (approved).

Planned opening dates of other sectors (pending approval of the National Government)

• First week of September: gyms, temples and churches.
• Second week of September: open air theaters, events in Plaza Mayor convention center, sports venues, Parque Arví, Pueblito Paisa, El Volador hill and motels.
• Third week of September: cinemas, theaters and related, Parque Norte Amusement Park and casinos.
• First week of October: coliseums.
• Third week of November: Aeroparque Juan Pablo II, discos and bars.
• First week of December: La Macarena, football (soccer) stadium and massive events.

Parque Norte to open the third week of September, water ride at Parque Norte amusement park in Medellín, photo courtesy of Parque Norte

Computer generated image of COVID-19, photo by Felipe Esquivel Reed

Medellin Guru’s Coronavirus Series

Medellin Guru has a series of articles about the coronavirus pandemic and the impacts in Colombia: Also, these articles are being kept up-to-date, as this is a fast-moving topic:

• Economy Impacts in Colombia Due to Extended Quarantine
• Epicenter of Coronavirus in Colombia: Bogotá is the Epicenter
• Medellín Plans the Total Reopening of Economic Activities in the City
• When Will the Quarantine End in Colombia? On September 1?
• Humanitarian Flights from Colombia to the U.S. and Other Countries
• Beware of Fake News in Colombia About Coronavirus and Quarantines
• Reopening Gymnasiums, Churches and Movie Theaters in Colombia
• Reopening Amusement Parks, Zoos and Nature Reserves in Colombia
• Medellín Starts Free COVID-19 Tests on the Medellín Metro
• New COVID-19 Preventive Measures in Medellín to Contain the Pandemic
• Penalties for Violating the Quarantine in Medellín are Stiff
• COVID-19 Orange Alert in Bogotá: New Lockdowns in Bogotá
• Medellín Starts to Lift the Quarantine: Enters Smart Isolation Phase
• Colombia Started to Lift the Quarantine – What Does this Mean?
• Coronavirus: When Will the Quarantine Be Lifted in Colombia?
• Colombia Starts to Lift the Quarantine in COVID-19 Free Areas
• Colombia Quarantine: Nationwide Quarantine Extended to September 1
• Coronavirus in Colombia: Myth vs Reality – Current Status
• Coronavirus Hospitalization in Colombia: Myth vs Reality
• Are Medellín and Antioquia Winning the Coronavirus Battle?
• 23 Cities with a Major Increase in Coronavirus Cases in Colombia
• Colombia Coronavirus Death Rate: What are the Chances of Dying?
• Coronavirus: When Will Things Return to Normal in Colombia?
• COVID-19 Testing in Colombia: Realty About Coronavirus Testing
• Life as an Expat: During Medellín’s Coronavirus Quarantine
• Colombian Visa Process Changes: Due to Quarantine and Coronavirus
• Medellín Coronavirus Closures – What is Closed in Medellín?
• Pico y Cedula: A Restriction for Grocery Shopping in the Aburrá Valley During the Quarantine
• Pico y Cedula in Colombia: Which is Strictest Out of 5 Largest Cities?
• Medellín Quarantine Starts on March 20 for Four Days

Plan to reopen Pueblito Paisa the second week of September, photo by Jenny Bojinova

The Bottom Line: Reopening of Economic Activities in Medellín

Previously shopping malls reopened and all kinds of shops opened in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley. Over the next four months most places in Medellín and the Aburrá Valley will be able to gradually open.

Note that biosafety measure will still be in place for all these openings including the requirement to wear face masks.

However, the announcement of the plan for “total” reopening of economic activities in Medellín notably does not include schools and does not mention international flights. Without schools, how can the city claim this is a “total” reopening?

Also, international flights are important to the economy in Medellín and Colombia. Tourism typically represents almost 4 percent of the GDP of Colombia and is the third leading source of foreign exchange for Colombia behind oil and coal.

Tourism before the pandemic was growing at a double digit rate in Colombia. But the entire tourism sector has been hit very hard by the quarantine in Colombia. We plan to look at impacts to tourism industry in Colombia in a future article.

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