informing about the mandatory use of face masks. After the first cases were confirmed, various measures were introduced. Public performances were canceled, and some public places were closed. The
Gremial Única del Taxi union asked passengers not to sit on the front seat of taxis. All political parties temporarily suspended campaign events ahead of the
municipal elections, which were postponed from May to September. Movie theaters started requiring customers to sit on every other seat. Catholic bishops modified some ceremonies. Shopping centers were closed on 17 March 2020 and the Interior Minister advised residents to stay home as much as possible. The
University of the Republic cancelled classes on 13 March 2020, The government announced a two-week suspension of classes at public and private schools on Saturday, 14 March. Schools were to remain open to provide meals to students, but without classes. The suspension of classes was extended to 13 April and beyond that. A plan to let students return to school on a voluntary basis starting in June 2020 was announced by president Luis Lacalle Pou on 21 May 2020. Students transitioned to online classes using the computers and online tools that had already been set up through the
Ceibal project. Private schools that don't use Ceibal instead started using
Zoom,
Cisco Webex,
WhatsApp,
Google Classroom, and
Moodle. . On 16 March, the government issued an order to close all border crossings except
Carrasco International Airport. The border with Argentina was closed effective 17 March at midnight. The closure included river and air travel. and from Europe effective 20 March at midnight (00:00), at which point the airport was to close. On 17 March, the
Ministry of Economy and Finance published a list of prices of products such as
alcohol gel,
rectified alcohol, and
surgical masks, in order to prevent
price gouging. The list gave locations where the products could be obtained and their prices at each location. On 18 March, the government said "everything is on the table", including the possibility of a "general quarantine", to address the virus. Amid thousands of unemployment insurance claims, the government announced subsidies and other measures to cushion the economic impact of the pandemic. The Medical Union of Uruguay (
Sindicato Médico del Uruguay) called for a general quarantine (shutting down all nonessential businesses and activities). As of 19 March, the possibility was being discussed in the government but had not been implemented due to concerns about its economic effects. during the winter of 2020 as restrictions were eased. In late March, the government closed Uruguay's borders to foreigners, with the exceptions of Uruguayan residents, transit passengers, and cities on the border with Brazil. On 30 March, the government announced that from 1 April to 12 April measures would be taken to restrict movement within the country in the lead-up to the
Tourism Week (the Uruguayan term for
Holy Week). Residents were advised not to use RVs or to travel with hunting weapons, and campgrounds were closed. The public was advised to stay home and avoid going to public places or campgrounds. On 17 April, President Luis Lacalle Pou announced the creation of a group of experts, locally known as the
GACH—Grupo Asesor Científico Honorario—tasked with advising the government through the development of studies and methodologies. Its principal members included mathematician and electrical engineer
Fernando Paganini, a member of the Latin American Academy of Sciences;
Rafael Radi, the first Uruguayan scientist elected to the
US National Academy of Sciences and president of the National Academy of Sciences of Uruguay; and
Henry Cohen Engelman, president of the National Academy of Medicine, who was named a Master of the
World Gastroenterology Organisation in 2019. As of 2 December, given the increase in cases (especially in Montevideo), a series of temporary measures were put into effect to slow growth. Among them the closure of sports activities in gyms and closed places, the implementation of
remote work requirements, closing of restaurants after midnight and the suspension of end-of-year parties. On 16 December, amid an exponential increase in cases, the executive branch announced a new set of measures. These included the regulation of Article 38 of the
Constitution of the Republic (granting the Executive the power to disperse gatherings); a ban on entry into the country between 21 December and 10 January; a 50% reduction in capacity on interdepartmental transport during that period; the extension of opening hours for shopping centres and street markets; the reopening of gyms with a maximum capacity of 30%; and the suspension of public events. Twenty-one days later, on 6 January, it was announced that border closures and the enforcement of Article 38 of the Constitution would remain in effect for a further 20 days. It was also announced that public events would resume at reduced capacity, that sports activities would take place without spectators, and that bars and restaurants would be allowed to extend their opening hours until 2 a.m. On 27 January 2021 it was announced that as of 1 February the borders would reopen to Uruguayan citizens, foreign residents and in the cases of the exceptions provided. On 16 March 2021, two weeks before the start of classes, President Luis Lacalle Pou announced a two-week suspension of classes in Rivera Department and the suspension of compulsory attendance in the rest of the country. A week later, on 23 March, following the confirmation of cases of the
Brazilian variant in seven departments, additional measures were announced. These included the closure of public offices until 12 April; the suspension of in-person classes at all levels of education; and the closure of hot springs, gyms, and duty-free shops along the border with Brazil. In addition, the government announced the reinstatement of the 'COVID-19 Solidarity Tax' (Impuesto de Emergencia Sanitaria), applied to public officials earning more than UYU 120,000 per month, with proceeds allocated to the Coronavirus Fund. Lacalle Pou ruled out a return to a 'stay-at-home' policy, instead promoting a strategy described as 'stay in your bubble'. These measures were subsequently extended through April, May, and June. The return to face-to-face education began on May 3, with the opening of rural schools. On June 7, first, second, and third-grade primary school students from Montevideo, Canelones, and Salto returned to their classrooms. On June 14, fourth, fifth and sixth year students from urban schools throughout the country, except those in Montevideo, Canelones and Salto, who returned to face-to-face classes on the 21st. On July 12, the students of the first, fourth, and sixth grade of high school and UTU returned to face-to-face classes; while a week later, on July 19, the second, third and fifth graders. On July 5, public events were enabled, as well as parties and events of similar characteristics, and food courts, with capacity limitations. Movie theaters were also enabled, except those in Montevideo, Canelones and Maldonado, which were reopened to the public on July 15. Since August 18, the public was able to enter stadiums; The first match was at the
Campeón del Siglo Stadium in which
Club Atlético Peñarol played
Club Sporting Cristal, with a capacity of 5,000 spectators being allowed in the venue. On November 1, the borders were opened, allowing entry to foreigners who prove they had been inoculated with one or two doses, depending on the vaccine; and those who have had the disease within the last 90 days prior to arrival in the country. In the first week, more than 23,000 people entered the country, while 19,000 left. == Impact ==