Mexico sees surge in COVID-19 cases after influx of American tourists

• All through the COVID-19 pandemic, Individuals have been flocking to Mexico both on trip or to settle, in response to a number of studies.
• In November, greater than half one million Individuals traveled to Mexico, The New York Times reported.
• The inflow of Individuals has been partly as a result of relaxed restrictions on the Mexican border: whereas many nations require proof of a unfavourable coronavirus check or quarantine upon arrival, Mexico doesn’t ask for both.
• The inflow of vacationers has, partially, led to a surge of COVID-19 instances within the nation. Mexico reported new highs in each day instances in November and December.
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In a bid to keep away from COVID-19 restrictions again dwelling, a substantial variety of Individuals have traveled to Mexico for a trip or — in some cases — to calm down there.

“Lots of people are both coming down right here and visiting to try it out or have simply full-on relocated,” a former New Yorker who has lived in Mexico Metropolis for 2 years advised The New York Times.

In response to The Occasions, the variety of US guests getting into Mexico doubled between June and August 2020, and in November, greater than half one million American traveled to Mexico.

Whereas the American arrivals have been a boon to the Mexican tourism trade, there have been penalties.

There’s presently a surge in coronavirus throughout the nation, with authorities recording new peaks in November and December.

According to Worldometer, Mexico recorded greater than 12,500 new coronavirus instances on December 23 — the very best for the reason that starting of the pandemic — and the figures have hovered round there since.

And on December 31, 1,052 individuals in Mexico died of COVID-19, Worldometer reported. The nation’s worst demise toll — 1,128 deaths — was recorded on June 4.

As of Sunday, Mexico has recorded greater than 1.Four million COVID-19 instances and greater than 126,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The nation has the fourth-highest COVID-19 demise toll on this planet.

The surge in instances has been partly attributed to Individuals getting into the nation, The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times reported in December. The US has recorded the very best variety of COVID-19 instances and deaths on this planet.

In response to the rising variety of instances in Mexico, the US State Department has urged Individuals to “rethink” journey to Mexico because of excessive COVID-19 an infection charges.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has additionally suggested individuals to “keep away from all journey to Mexico” due to a “very excessive degree of COVID-19.”

Why Individuals are flocking to Mexico

Beachside municipalities, akin to Los Cabos, have seen a very massive inflow of Individuals. The Riviera Maya — a area that hosts quite a few all-inclusive resorts — has welcomed extra American vacationers than ever earlier than, in response to The Washington Post.

Quintana Roo — the place Tulum and Cancun are located — has seen a 23% improve in American guests in comparison with 2019, The Publish reported.

There are roughly 100 flights touchdown from the US touchdown within the area each day, the paper stated.

Dr. Enrique Hernandez, a trauma specialist in Los Cabos, told NPR: “It is irritating seeing vacationers and locals alike being irresponsible and never sporting masks now.”

Xavier Tello, a Mexican health-policy analyst, equally advised The New York Occasions: “What we’re creating is a vicious cycle, the place we’re receiving extra individuals, who’re probably infectious or contaminated from elsewhere, they usually preserve mixing with individuals which can be probably infectious or contaminated right here in Mexico Metropolis.”

The inflow of Individuals might be attributed, partially, to the comparatively relaxed entry necessities for vacationers.

Whereas many nations require US residents to point out proof of a unfavourable COVID-19 check or a interval of quarantine upon arrival, Mexico doesn’t ask for both.

One other American, Juan Castro from Carpinteria, California, advised the Los Angeles Times {that a} keep in Mexico appealed to him as a result of the nation has stricter coronavirus protocols than the US.

Throughout a lot of Mexico, resorts, eating places, and retailers require temperature checks on the entrance, the tourism journal TravelAge West reported. Many areas additionally place limits on their capability, the journal stated.