Saturday, October 5, 2024

US issues travel warning for COVID; urges caution to travelers in Chiapas

Health authorities in the United States have raised their risk assessment of the COVID-19 situation in Mexico from Level 2 “moderate” to Level 3 “high.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new travel advice for Mexico on Monday, advising U.S. citizens to make sure they are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines before traveling here.

“If you are not up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, avoid travel to Mexico,” the CDC said. “… If you have a weakened immune system or are at increased risk for severe disease, even if you are up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines, talk with your clinician about your risk, and consider delaying travel to Mexico.”

A fifth wave of coronavirus infections began in Mexico in early May, according to health experts, but the increase in new case numbers has been more notable in June. There are currently 49,210 estimated active cases after the Health Ministry reported 9,452 new cases on Wednesday. The estimated active case tally has increased by over 200% this month after ending May at about 16,000.

San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, was the site of a drawn-out conflict between armed civilians Tuesday afternoon. The U.S. government advises visitors to proceed with caution when traveling in the southern state.
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, was the site of a drawn-out conflict between armed civilians Tuesday afternoon. The U.S. government advises visitors to proceed with caution when traveling in the southern state.

Earlier in the pandemic, tourists were blamed for high case numbers in destinations such as Quintana Roo and Baja California Sur, which are currently among the states with the highest number of active cases on a per capita basis. Mexico has never required incoming travelers to show a negative COVID test result or go into mandatory quarantine. The United States dropped its own testing requirement for incoming travelers last Sunday.

The U.S. Department of State acknowledged the CDC’s reassessment of the COVID risk in Mexico in an updated travel advisory issued Monday, but didn’t change its advice for individual states. It continues to advise U.S. citizens not to travel to Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa and Tamaulipas due to crime and kidnapping.

Eleven states – Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, México state, Morelos, Nayarit, Sonora and Zacatecas – are on the “reconsider travel” list due to crime or crime and kidnapping.

Chiapas, where armed men sowed terror during a lengthy show of force in San Cristóbal de las Casas on Tuesday, is one of 14 federal entities where the State Department advises travelers to “exercise increased caution.” Campeche and Yucatán are the only states where “normal precautions” are advised.

Among the general advice the State Department offers to travelers in Mexico is to use toll roads when possible and avoid driving alone or at night; exercise increased caution when visiting local bars, nightclubs, and casinos; do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry; and be extra vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs.

Mexico News Daily 

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
Felipe Angeles International Airport at sunset

Felipe Ángeles International Airport wins architectural design award

0
The military-run airport built and championed by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been recognized with a Prix Versailles award.
State police officer with a machine gun and wearing a baclava stands at a crime scene where a pickup truck with the Sinaloa attorney general's logo on it is parked, blocking the street horizontally.

7 bodies found in Culiacán as Sinaloa Cartel infighting continues

0
The bodies, which showed signs of torture, are believed to be the latest victims in an ongoing war between two Sinaloa Cartel factions.
Blue electric municipal-style bus with an icon of an electric plug on the bus.

Mexico City’s municipal solar panels to power the capital’s electric buses

0
A solar farm, located at Mexico City's Central de Abasto market, will power nearly 100 EV city buses in the capital.