The U.S. State Department issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Mexico on Tuesday, advising Americans to avoid traveling to the popular vacation destination due to the risk of contracting COVID-19.
Mexico is one of the dozens of countries around the world that have been elevated to Level 4 (Do Not Travel) this spring as the department aims to “better reflect the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) science-based Travel Health Notices that outline current issues affecting travelers’ health.”
According to Travel Pulse, The State Department announced that the continued risk associated with the coronavirus pandemic has forced the agency to expand its “Do Not Travel” guidance to about 80 percent of countries worldwide, Mexico among them.
“Because of the current situation in Mexico even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants and should avoid all travel to Mexico,” the CDC states. “If you must travel to Mexico, get fully vaccinated before travel. All travelers should wear a mask, stay six feet from others, avoid crowds, and wash their hands.”
While the State Department is advising against travel to Mexico, its advice for individual states isn’t so definitive. For example, travelers are encouraged to exercise increased caution in places like Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur and Mexico City due to crime, yet there are currently no travel restrictions for popular tourist destinations such as Cancun, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta, among others.
Mexico was among the first destinations to welcome back international tourists in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently one of the few countries allowing travelers to visit without proof of a negative COVID-19 test result. However, people returning to the U.S. by plane must show a negative test performed no more than three days before their scheduled flights in order to board the aircraft.
If you DO decide to travel to Mexico this summer, the Mexican government encourages everyone – even those who have been vaccinated – to continue wearing masks, respecting social distancing measures, washing their hands frequently, and coughing or sneezing in the inner part of the elbow to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Sources: travel.state.gov – Travel Pulse
