Mexico: Authorities to amend COVID-19 restrictions in several states from Feb. 15 /update 32

Event

Mexican authorities have eased restrictions in several states under the existing color-coded system to track coronavirus disease (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.

Effective Feb. 15, notably, Mexico City and State of Mexico will advance from red to orange, along with Colima, Nuevo Leon, Jalisco, Puebla, Morelos, Queretaro, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi, and Hidalgo. Chiapas will return to the green level, and Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Tabasco will advance from orange to yellow. These classifications will probably remain in place through Feb. 28; however, the classification of each jurisdiction is also 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 to take enhanced health measures. In-person lessons in schools may also take place. Effective Feb. 15, only Chiapas will be 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. Effective Feb. 15, the states of Campeche, Baja California, Sonora, Chihuahua, Durango, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, and Tabasco will be 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 indoors. Shopping malls, places of worship, cinemas, theaters, museums, and cultural events are limited to 25-percent capacity; though such establishments may remain closed in some orange-level states. The following states will be at the orange level: Mexico City, State of Mexico, Colima, Nuevo Leon, Jalisco, Puebla, Morelos, Queretaro, Nayarit, San Luis Potosi, and Hidalgo, as well as Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Zacatecas, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tlaxcala, and Coahuila.

Red Level: Only essential businesses and services may operate in states designated as being in the red category. Hotels are only available to critical workers, and occupancy is limited to 25 percent. Parks may open at 25-percent capacity. Residents are encouraged to remain inside their homes, except to perform essential tasks. Residents must wear protective face coverings whenever in public. Beginning Feb. 15, only Guerrero and Guanajuato will remain at the red level.

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
Officials extended their country's pandemic-related land border closure with the US for all nonessential travel until at least Feb. 21. The ban on recreational boat travel will also remain in effect. These measures have been in place since March 2020 under a mutual agreement between the two countries. Cargo transport between Mexico and the US is exempt. Officials in Mexico continue to advise residents to avoid all international travel, though international air travel is continuing.

Authorities could reimpose, 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