Mexico is the world’s 6th most popular tourist destination. As a result, its borders are open for tourism despite its COVID-19 cases that are currently on the rise. Mexico is for the most part open to all travelers from all countries.
Mexico is currently implementing a sanitary alert system called the Traffic Light system. Consequently for gradually reopening activities, including the economy in a safe and sustainable manner.
The reopening in three processes:
Phase 1
As of May 18, 2020: Start of reopening of activities in the municipalities that the federal government has already established. To be cleared for reopening, municipalities must not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19. Nor may any neighboring municipalities have any confirmed COVID-19 cases. All labor activities will reopen in these municipalities.
Phase 2
As of May 18, 2020 to May 31, 2020: Preparation period. The construction, mining, and transportation equipment industries, which are now designated as “New Essential Industries,” must adapt and validate safety and hygiene protocols to resume labor activities in a safe way.
Phase 3
As of June 01, 2020: The economic reopening of industries and activities will be subject to a weekly sanitary traffic light signal by region (state or municipal), which will determine the level of sanitary alert and define which kinds of activities are authorized to be performed in the economic, labor, educational, and social sectors. Note that essential activities may always operate.
Who Can Travel To Mexico?
Basically, all tourists who can travel to Mexico as before the COVID-19 pandemic can enter. With the need of visa if their country requires one to enter.
What Are The Entry Requirements?
Meanwhile, Mexico has no published restrictions. However, screenings should be done on all arriving passengers. In short, those found to have symptoms will be subject to quarantine.
What Is Open In Mexico?
Each State in Mexico will be opening in response to the traffic light system. The color of the light in each state will determine when the region opens. In other words, this traffic light system is based on the amount of COVID-19 transmission in any given area.
As of today, many hotels and restaurants where the light has turned to Orange have started Operations.In Cancun, for instance, turned their light to Orange as of June 8, 2020. Puerto Villarta reopened for tourism as of June 15, 2020, including all beaches and hotels. And Los Cabos as of June 15, 2020, as well.
- Gyms, fitness centers, and personal care services at 50-percent capacity
- Restaurants at 50-percent capacity similar to lodging businesses at 50-percent capacity
- Cinemas, theaters, cultural facilities, and malls at 25-percent capacity, and places of worship at 25-percent capacity
The Traffic Light System
As of June 1, 2020, the federal traffic light system will be implemented on a weekly basis. As a result, the traffic light system will determine the level of risk for each state and municipality in Mexico. (Some states, including Nuevo León, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, Durango, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco, have openly declared that they will not abide entirely by the traffic light color declared by the federal government.)
Below is a guide to what each color means and to the permitted and prohibited activities for each color.
Red/Maximum Level
- Only essential activities will operate (including construction, mining and manufacture of transport).
- Restrictions on high-risk individuals (those who have a chronic disease or who are obese, individuals older than 60, and pregnant women) remain in place.
- No school activities.
- No activities in public spaces.
Orange/High Level
- Only essential activities will operate (including construction, mining and manufacture of transport).
- Restrictions on high-risk individuals (those who have a chronic disease or who are obese, individuals older than 60, and pregnant women) remain in place.
- No school activities.
- No activities in public spaces.
Yellow/Medium Level
- All economic and labor activities should follow safety protocols.
- Restrictions on high-risk individuals (determined by company) continue.
- No school activities.
- There may be activities in public spaces, but with certain limitations. Closed spaces may operate with restrictions.
Green/Low Level
- All educational, labor, economic, and social activities may resume without restrictions.
- Activities also resume without restrictions for high-risk individuals.
Current Restrictions In Place For Mexico
- All citizens and visitors should stay at home, maintain social distancing, and washing of hands regularly.
- Most importantly, travelers should wear masks in public.
- No more gathering of over 100 people
- The land border between the United States and Mexico remains closed for non-essential travelers.
- Masks will not be required on the beach and in the water. But they will be mandated at beach entry points and common areas. Travelers should also practice social distancing. For instance, visitors should stay at least 6 feet from each other on the sand and in the water.
You may want to check out all the details about Mexico on our live map.
Sources: The National Law Review | Mexico News Daily | Travel Pulse | CDC | Travel State Gov | US Embassy & Consulates in Mexico | World Aware
1 Comment