GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO

LA FORTALEZA
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Administrative Bulletin No.: OE-2020-023

EXECUTIVE ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR OF PUERTO RICO, HON. WANDA

VÁZQUEZ-GARCED, TO IMPLEMENT THE NECESSARY CLOSURE OF
GOVERNMENTAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO COMBAT
THE EFFECTS OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND TO CONTROL THE RISK OF
INFECTION ON OUR ISLAND.

WHEREAS: Rulers are characterized by their interest in seeking the well-being of

all their citizens. For this reason, as the Governor of Puerto Rico, on
March 12, 2020, I declared a state of emergency across our island
amid the threat of the coronavirus or COVID-19 global pandemic.
This makes making every effort to safeguard the health, life, and
safety of all Puerto Ricans the highest priority of my government.
With the purpose of minimizing the potential of infection and
transmission entailed by this terrible viral threat and given that it
threatens the health of our citizens, we hereby issue Executive Order
2020-23.
WHEREAS: As we all know, as of today, the first 5 positive cases of coronavirus
or COVID-19 infection have been reported in Puerto Rico. It is
therefore imperative that we all take the highest preventive and
caution measures, and that the government take all the necessary
measures to control the spread of the virus that is affecting our
citizens. We reaffirm that the Government of Puerto Rico is fully
committed to ensuring the well-being and protection of our citizens.

WHEREAS: In order to prevent the spread and infection of COVID-19 on our Island,
the Government of Puerto Rico has taken and will take all necessary
steps to ensure the well-being of all citizens.

WHEREAS: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been
taking public health and safety measures throughout the United
States in response to the spread of COVID-19.
WHEREAS: In view of the above, the Puerto Rico Department of Health has
stated that it is imperative that measures be taken to prevent the
spread of the COVID-19 virus. This is in accordance with Art. VI. Sec.
5-6 of the Constitution of Puerto Rico, L.P.R.A, Volume 1; and Art. 1
of Act No. 81 of March 14, 1912, as amended, known as the Puerto
Rico Health Department Act, 3 L.P.R.A sec. 171 ("Act No.

I, Juan E. Segarra, USCCI #06-067/translator, certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate
translation, to the best of my abilities, of the document in Spanish which I have seen.
 CERTIFIED TRANSLATION

81"). These measures have been taken and have been notified to our
citizens from March 12, 2020. To date, despite the warnings and
recommendations to stay at home, the importance and seriousness of
the threat has not been entirely assimilated, with some people staying
outside their homes until late at night and gathering in groups in public
places, thus endangering their health and the health of others and
putting themselves at risk of contracting and spreading this terrible
and lethal virus. This situation requires me to take stronger
WHEREAS: measures for the benefit and protection of our people.
Article 6.10 of Act 20-2017, as amended, known as the Puerto Rico
Public Safety Department Act, empowers the Governor to declare a
state of emergency on our Island, and “[…] to amend and repeal any
regulation, as well as to issue, amend, and rescind any order as it may
deem appropriate in order to rule during the state of emergency or
disaster.”
THEREFORE:
I, WANDA VÁZQUEZ-GARCED, Governor of Puerto Rico, by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of Puerto
Rico, hereby DECLARE and ORDER the following :

Section 1:
In accordance with the state of emergency declared under
Administrative Bulletin No. OE-2020-020 of March 12, 2020, it is
hereby acknowledged that we are facing major threat circumstances
that are putting the health of our citizens at risk. In view of the disregard
and lack of prudence shown by some citizens who have failed to
understand the seriousness of the declared emergency, it has become
necessary to take stringent measures that will promote full compliance
and respect for the isolation and quarantine orders that have been
issued.
Section 2:
Under the powers conferred by Sections 5 and 6 of Art. VI of the
Constitution of Puerto Rico, by Art. 1 of Act No. 81, and by Act No. 20-
2017, a curfew is hereby ORDERED for all citizens, starting today at 9
p.m., during which everyone will be required to remain in their homes,
as specified below.

It is hereby ordered that any person who has reasonable suspicion that
he or she may have been exposed to the COVID-19, whether or not
they are showing signs or symptoms of infection, and in order to
prevent or limit the transmission and spread of the virus, shall remain
in quarantine for fourteen (14) days as of the issuance of this Order.
This implies that the person must strictly remain at home and limit his
or her activities outside their home to receiving medical treatment or

2
I, Juan E. Segarra, USCCI #06-067/translator, certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate
translation, to the best of my abilities, of the document in Spanish which I have seen.
 CERTIFIED TRANSLATION

care, in order to prevent the risk of infection within the community.

Section 3: It is further ORDERED that social distancing be enforced by any person

who has been infected or who has a reasonable suspicion that he or she
may have been infected with the COVID-19 virus for fourteen (14) days
from the date of this order, as well confining or restricting their activities
to their home, according to medical instructions, in order to ensure their
health and to prevent them from posing a risk to public health and
preventing transmission to non-infected persons.

Section 4: By virtue of the powers granted by the Constitution and the Laws of
Puerto Rico, the closure of all governmental operations is hereby
ORDERED, except for those related to essential services. This
includes the closure of all businesses in Puerto Rico starting today,
March 15, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. until March 30, 2020, unless otherwise
provided, except for food retail or wholesale businesses providing
services through drive-thru, carry-out, or delivery only, including
prepared foods, medications or medical equipment, pharmacies,
supermarkets, gas stations, banking or financial institutions, nursing
homes, or other businesses related to the food, medical products, or
fuel supply chains.

This order for total closure shall apply to shopping centers, movie
Section 5:
theaters, dance clubs, concert halls, theaters, game or gambling
rooms, casinos amusement parks, gyms, bars, or any similar place or
event that may promote the gathering of a group of citizens in the
same place.

Section 6: This curfew will allow citizens to travel or walk along public roads from
5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. only on the following circumstances:

(a) Purchasing food, pharmaceutical, and basic necessity products;

(b) keeping medical appointments or visiting a hospital, laboratory, or
healthcare facility; (c) going or coming from a workplace whose
closure has not been ordered hereunder, public and private
employees who perform essential work; (d) returning to your usual
place of residence from an allowed activity; (e) to provide assistance,
care, transportation of senior citizens, children, dependents, people
with disabilities or people who require any type of medical or
professional attention. The above, provided that all necessary
precautions are taken to prevent infection; (f) visiting financial
institutions.

3
I, Juan E. Segarra, USCCI #06-067/translator, certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate
translation, to the best of my abilities, of the document in Spanish which I have seen.
 CERTIFIED TRANSLATION

Section 7: During the curfew, citizens may only travel on public roads in an emergency
situation.

The curfew shall continue until March 30, 2020. Individuals authorized
under this Order due to work and/or emergency reasons shall be
excluded from this curfew.
The provisions of this Section shall not apply to individuals duly
identified as public or private security agency employees at the state
and federal level, health professionals; hospital, personnel working in
hospitals, pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies, bioscience
facilities or health centers; personnel working in the wholesale food
and product manufacturing and supply chain, from their origin to
consumer retail outlets; personnel working with utilities or critical
infrastructure; call centers; ports and airports personnel; members of
the press; or citizens who are addressing emergency or health
situations. These individuals shall be authorized to travel on public
roads to and from work when necessary.
It is hereby ordered that the Puerto Rico Police Department and the
Public Safety Department take all necessary measures to enforce the
provisions of this Executive Order.
Section 8:
Failure to comply with the provisions contained in this Emergency
Executive Order by any person and/or business shall result in the
implementation of criminal penalties and fines as provided by all
applicable laws, as well as by Act No. 20-2017, as amended, which
establishes a term of imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months or a
fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both penalties, at
the discretion of the court, for any person who fails to comply with the
evacuation orders issued by the Public Safety Department or its
Bureaus.
Section 9:
DEROGATION. This Executive Order supersedes any other executive
order that may be inconsistent with the provisions herein, to the extent of
such inconsistency.
Section 10: VALIDITY. This Executive Order shall enter into force immediately and
shall remain in force until March 30, 2020, and/or until further notice.

NON-CREATION OF ENFORCEABLE RIGHTS. This Executive Order

Section 11:
is not intended to create any rights, substantive or
procedural, enforceable at law or equity, by any person or entity, in any
matter, civil, criminal, or administrative, against the Government of Puerto
Rico or its agencies, officials, employees, or any other

4
I, Juan E. Segarra, USCCI #06-067/translator, certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate
translation, to the best of my abilities, of the document in Spanish which I have seen.
 CERTIFIED TRANSLATION

person.

Section 12: PUBLICATION. This Executive Order must be filed immediately with the
Department of State and the widest possible publication is hereby ordered.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereby issue this

Executive Order under my signature and cause the
Great Seal of the Government of Puerto Rico to be
affixed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on this 15th day of
March of 2020.

WANDA VÁZQUEZ-GARCED
GOVERNOR

Enacted in accordance with the law on this 15th day of March of 2020.

SECRETARY OF STATE

5
I, Juan E. Segarra, USCCI #06-067/translator, certify that the foregoing is a true and accurate
translation, to the best of my abilities, of the document in Spanish which I have seen.