Mexico: Authorities update COVID-19-related state-level restrictions effective June 7 /update 43

Event

Authorities in Mexico have updated the COVID-19-related restrictions in effect in a number of jurisdictions in response to changes in local disease activity. Following the most recent assessment, measures will be eased in four of the nation's states, as well as in Mexico City, while they will be tightened in six states. Effective June 7, Mexico City, along with the states of Mexico, Michoacan, Puebla, and Zacatecas, will drop from the yellow (moderate) risk level on the nation's color-coded COVID-19 tracking system to the green (low) level, entailing the least restrictions. The states of Sonora, Sinaloa, and Veracruz, on the other hand, will be categorized at the higher yellow level after having been classed as green risk locations; the states of Baja California Sur, Tabasco, and Yucatan will increase from the yellow to the orange (high) risk level.

Mexican authorities still employ a 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.

The new state classifications will be in effect until at least June 20; however, a jurisdiction's risk level can be changed at short notice, especially if confirmed cases significantly increase locally. The specific restrictions and states currently associated with each risk level are as follows:

Green Level: Authorities allow all businesses to operate and activities to take place while urging residents to maintain social distancing and take enhanced health measures. In-person lessons in schools may also take place. Mexico City and the following states that will be at the Green Level June 7-June 20: Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Coahuila, Durango, Mexico State, Guerrero, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Morelos, Michoacan, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Tlaxcala, and Zacatecas.

Yellow Level: Authorities allow nonessential businesses to operate with some capacity restrictions depending on the sector and/or regional government's specifications. In general, restaurants, lodging businesses, personal care services, open-air parks and plazas, and gyms may operate at 75 percent capacity. Cinemas, museums, theaters, cultural facilities, malls, and places of worship may operate at 50 percent capacity. States that will be at the Yellow Level June 7-June 20 are: Baja California, Campeche, Chihuahua, Colima, Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Sonora, Sinaloa, and Veracruz.

Orange Level: Authorities allow certain nonessential businesses to open with stricter capacity limits. Markets and supermarkets can operate at up to 75 percent capacity. In general, lodging businesses, restaurants, personal care services, and open-air parks and plazas can operate at 50 percent capacity. 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. States that will be at the orange level June 7-June 20 are Baja California Sur, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, and Yucatan.

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.

International Travel Restrictions
Authorities in Mexico have extended the country's land border closures to all nonessential travel through at least June 21. The land border closure with the US has been in place since March 2020 under a mutual agreement between the two countries; nonessential land travel from Mexico to the US remains banned, while nonessential land travel from the US to Mexico is banned in all states that are at the orange or red levels. All nonessential travel across Mexico's southern land borders with Belize and Guatemala also remains banned through at least June 21. 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.

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