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The Governor of Quintana Roo has announced that the northern area of the state including Cancun and Playa Del Carmen will have an increased epidemiological warning level.
Governor Carlos Joaquin Gonzalez said that the state will change to an orange epidemiological light for January 25-31. On Thursday alone the state recorded over 200 new cases and reported that 52 people were in intensive care units.
Starting next week, Cancun and Riviera Maya region will regress backward to an orange epidemiological light due to a continued surge in Covid-19 infections.
“We are facing a critical moment. This is a clear message that if we do not take sanitary measures seriously, we will lose what we have managed to gain in recent months.”
With the new warning level, the Governor is deploying more officers to enforce prevention protocols including the mandatory use of masks and capacity restrictions.
Under the new warning level tourism related business will have to drop their capacity from 60% to a maximum of 30%. Beaches, markets, attractions will be under strict supervision to ensure that all health protocols are being met.
Governor Gonzalez stated that movement will be restricted with multiple road closures and traffic reductions measures. Along with other strict sanitary measures “We will apply rapid tests and screening at strategic points to isolate cases,” Gonzales stated according to the Riviera Maya Times.
The Governor warned that if the trend in cases continues, the State could revert back to a ‘red’ warning light which would mean total confinement.
Increased Testing Options Amid New U.S. and Canada Entry Requirements
Cancun and the state of Quintana Roo have announced they are ready to meet travelers needs in regards to the new mandatory testing rules set out by the U.S. government.
The Secretary of tourism and the Tourism Promotion Council of Quintana Roo said they have 15,000 antigen tests available per day ready for U.S. travelers returning home.
Starting January 26th, all travelers arriving in the United States from abroad will be required to present proof of a negative Covid-19 antigen test no older than 72 hours. This includes American travelers returning home from vacation.
60% of hotels in Quintana Roo are reporting that they are offering onsite testing and dozens of clinics are offering antigen testing as well.
A Week of Bad News For Cancun and Playa Del Carmen
It seems as the blows just keep coming this week for Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. The state had to first scramble to meet new testing requirements set out by Canada and the United States. After appearing to have the new testing under control for tourists, the Biden administration announced a new mandatory quarantine for American travelers returning home.
As cases surge, the northern part of the state of Quintana Roo was reverted back to an orange level meaning more restrictions and less capacity for tourism related businesses to operate.
Cancun has become one of the top tourism destinations in the world during the pandemic but with the recent new restrictions facing its main tourism market of U.S. travelers, only time will tell what the economic cost will be.
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Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling. Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories
Roderick Sanders
Sunday 24th of January 2021
What good is it to take the vaccine and you still have to be quarantined? Are there any rules for those who have been vaccinated?