Mexico: Authorities extend COVID-19 related land border closure with the US, and close southern border through April 21 /update 36

Event

Authorities in Mexico will close the country's northern and southern land borders to all nonessential travel through April 21, as part of the ongoing COVID-19-related response. The border closure with the US has been in place since March 2020 under a mutual agreement between the two countries; the border closure with Belize and Guatemala takes effect March 19, following a pandemic-related review. The ban on recreational boat travel will also remain in effect. Cargo transport across the land borders is exempt.

International air travel is continuing. Mexico is not enforcing any mandatory quarantine requirements for arrivals; however, travelers may be subject to health screenings at the airport and those presenting symptoms of COVID-19 may be subject to additional health checks and/or quarantine.

Domestic Measures
Mexican authorities are maintaining the long-standing color-coded system to track COVID-19 activity at the state level and implement localized restrictions accordingly. Each state is assigned one of four coded levels based on local COVID-19 transmission; these levels range from green to red in order of increasing risk from the virus.

Until at least March 28, the following state classifications will be enforced; however, the classification of each jurisdiction is subject to amendment at short notice, especially if confirmed cases significantly increase locally. The color-coded system is applied as follows:

Green Level: Authorities allow all businesses and activities to operate while urging residents to maintain social distancing and take enhanced health measures. In-person lessons in schools may also take place. Chiapas, Campeche, and Sonora are at the green level.

Yellow Level: Authorities allow nonessential businesses to operate with some capacity restrictions depending on the sector and/or regional government's specifications. Restaurants, personal care services, and lodging businesses may operate at 50-percent capacity. Cinemas, theaters, cultural facilities, malls, public parks, places of worship, and professional sports and gyms may operate at 35-percent capacity. The states of Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Aguascaliente, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, and Zacatecas, as well as Nuevo Leon and San Luis Potosi, are at the yellow level.

Orange Level: Authorities allow certain nonessential businesses to open with stricter capacity limits. Markets and supermarkets can operate at up to 75-percent capacity. Lodging businesses, restaurants, and personal care services can operate at 40-percent capacity outdoors and 30-percent capacity indoors. Shopping malls, places of worship, cinemas, theaters, museums, and cultural events are limited to 25-percent capacity; such establishments may remain closed in some orange-level states. The following states are at the orange level: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Puebla, Morelos, Queretaro, Oaxaca, Yucatan, and Tabasco.

Red Level: Only essential businesses and services may operate in states designated as being in the red category. Residents are encouraged to remain inside their homes, except to perform essential tasks. Residents must wear protective face coverings whenever in public. There are no states at the red level.

The capacity limits are a general guide; local officials are permitted to enforce additional restrictions, which may include tighter capacity limits, restricted business hours, or maintaining the closure of certain nonessential businesses or recreational facilities.

Authorities could tighten or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national and regional health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays.

Resources

WHO Coronavirus Knowledge Base
Mexico Department of Health - COVID-19 Updates
Mexico City Government - COVID-19 Updates