Also, Decree 457 ordered preventive isolation from 0:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 25th until, the recently extended date, April 26. This Decree limits the free movement of people and vehicles, and suspends domestic air transport. It also brings a list of 34 activities exceptions that can be carried out and indicates that cargo transport, storage and logistics for import and export cargo must be guaranteed.

Different rules have also been issued to guarantee the functioning of the Government through the use of technology. Presidential Directive 02 and specifically Decree 491 of 2020 adopts emergency measures to guarantee care and the provision of services by the public authorities. In order to avoid contact between people and promote social distancing, the authorities will ensure that they provide services in their charge through the modality of home office. The authorities will announce on their website the official communication and information channels through which they will provide their service. The activities that are strictly necessary to prevent, mitigate and attend the health emergency due to COVID-19, and those that guarantee the operation of the State may not suspend the provision of services in person.

Labor regulations have been issued as well. Decree 488 of 2020 establishes that workers who have presented a decrease in their income may withdraw their unemployment aid. For granting vacations employers may notify employee one day in advance, likewise the employee may also request the vacation one day in advance. Employers are prohibited to force employees to take unpaid leave.

In regard to the Colombian Manufacture Sector, in accordance with the Decree 410 of 2020, we can find the possibility for air cargo or passenger transport companies, operating in and from Colombia, to import with a 0% tariff a wild range of goods (a total of 92 tariff subheadings were deducted), such as: paints and varnishes, lubricating preparations, prepared glues, flexible plastic tubes, glass mirrors, among others.

Moreover, the National Government has provided an extension of the deadlines for compliance with formal obligations related to income tax. Likewise, the dates for filing the declaration of assets abroad were modified. Thus, for major taxpayer the new deadline for filing the tax return and paying the third installment will be between June 9th and June 24th, 2020.

Lastly, the companies, will may continue market their products through e- commerce platforms, and in this case they will be able to operate their distribution centers.