Chile closes its borders again due to COVID-19

Chile's government announced Thursday that it is closing its borders in an effort to tighten COVID-19 restrictions as infection numbers continue to rise.

The restrictions prohibit Chileans and resident foreigners from entering or leaving the country beginning on April 5.

The new provisions do allow land crossings by commercial truckers carrying essential goods only if they have proof of a recent negative test.

"Non-resident foreigners will not be allowed to enter the country for a period of 30 days with the exception of those who are not on the list that the World Health Organization has declared as community transmitters," Chile's Undersecretary of Crime Prevention, Katherine Martorell said in a statement on Thursday.

While Chile has vaccinated 35% of its population in less than two months and authorities point out that there has been a decrease in the admission of older adults to hospital ICUs, COVID-19 cases are surging again.

The South American country has registered more than one million people coronavirus infections and 23,328 deaths resulting from COVID-19.