Soldiers patrol an Acapulco beach earlier this year to remind visitors to follow coronavirus precautions.
As of Monday bars and nightclubs are closed for business in Guerrero thanks to new measures that state authorities hope will stem the tide of new coronavirus cases.
In a virtual press conference, state officials announced that beaches will stay open but only from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. with only 40% of the usual occupancy permitted. The authorities also asked that beach-goers use face masks.
Parties, camping and live music are suspended but hotels will be allowed to continue operating at 40% capacity. Restaurants will remain open at 50% capacity and alcohol sales will be prohibited after 7 p.m. Cemeteries will be closed and places of worship can only operate at 40% capacity.
“We are looking for the middle ground … we reiterate that the beaches will stay open, but with restrictions,” said Governor Héctor Astudillo. He added that the health measures aim to slow the rising numbers of Covid cases over the next two weeks.
“We are making an energetic call to all who would come to the tourist centers of Acapulco and Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. They must know that we have a complicated situation here and they must follow the [health] guidelines,” Astudillo said. “We frequently find that the people ignoring [the guidelines] are the visitors.”
Mexico City is at red (high risk) on the coronavirus stoplight risk map, Astudillo said, meaning that visitors from the capital city could infect Guerrero citizens.
As of Monday, Guerrero is also red on the map. Despite that alert and the rise in cases, Acapulco registered 40% tourist occupancy on Sunday and beaches were brimming with vacationers.
With reports from Reforma
