Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico – The government of Jalisco last night announced new restrictions on non-essential activities in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG) and in Puerto Vallarta to curb the spread of Covid-19.
At yesterday afternoon’s meeting of the Health and Economic Reactivation Board, Enrique Alfaro, state governor, reported that the following lock-down measures will begin on Friday, December 25 at 6:00 am, and end at 11:59 pm on Sunday, January 10.
In the AMG, non-essential activities must close at 7:00 pm. This includes self-service stores, department stores, malls and shopping centers, shops in general, gyms, event rooms, clubs, restaurants and food stalls. After 7:00 pm restaurants must close their dining rooms, but they will be allowed to offer take-out service.
In addition, shopping centers and malls will be closed on weekends, and all holiday celebrations, both public and private, are prohibited. This means that all Christmas and New Year’s parties set to be held in hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs have been cancelled.
In Puerto Vallarta, the restrictions are less severe, but all bars, nightclubs, and event spaces will be closed to discourage travelers, mostly national tourist, from visiting the city during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period.
The lockdown of entertainment venues in Puerto Vallarta includes the cancelation of all holiday celebrations, parties and events that were scheduled to take place at any of these venues, as well as at resorts and hotels.
In both Puerto Vallarta and the AMG, the activities that will be allowed to operate normally are: convenience stores and neighborhood businesses, hospital services and medical equipment, pharmacies, clinics, laboratories, veterinarians, in addition to industry, food production, security services, basic, civil protection, postal, and courier. Funeral services, grocery stores, gas stations, and parks may also operate on a regular basis.
Unlike during the emergency button period at the end of October, this time public transportation will operate as usual, including taxi and platform services, but they must follow the corresponding sanitary measures. Health authorities call on the population to comply with the use of face masks and antibacterial gel when using public transport.
The following restrictions apply to both entities:
• If holiday gatherings are held, there must be a maximum of 10 people and the attendees must be from no more than three different dwellings.
• Patron saint festivals and pilgrimages, street parties and fairs are cancelled, as is the burning of pyrotechnics in public squares or temples, bonfires in public spaces and homes.
• Permissions for social events are also restricted (weddings, quinceañeras, baptisms, birthdays, New Year’s festivities, etc.).
• Regarding religious events and church services, the capacity should not exceed 25%, although there may not be choirs and songs, nor dancing groups.
The governor said that these actions are being taken due to the increase in infections, the increase in positivity in tests, and hospital occupancy, which, for the first time, is at 33.2 percent. He said the objective is to create better conditions for the January 11 review of the possibility of students’ gradual return to face-to-face classes and educational activities.
Gobierno del Estado de Jalisco news bulletin translated and edited by Ricardo Acerco for BanderasNews.com.
