BN Editor’s Note: The World Health Organization is publishing Daily Coronavirus (COVID-2019) Situation Reports, based on data as reported by national authorities, on their website. Visit who.int for the latest news and updates.
Mexico City – With events around the world being canceled, and the international travel and tourism industry facing multi-billion dollar losses, the overall impact of COVID-19 can’t be denied. If you have concerns about traveling to Mexico, here is an update on the situation south of the border.
On March 4, tourism representatives from the Mexican Caribbean held a webinar to discuss the facts about COVID-19 in the region. According to the presentation, “Mexico has no COVID-19 travel health notice from the CDC due to low number of cases and low risk.”
In fact, Mexico’s general Travel Health Notice from the CDC remains at the lowest, “Green Level 1,” meaning there are no reasons to avoid travel. Currently the U.S. is only recommending travelers avoid China, Iran, South Korea and Italy, Travel Weekly reported.
“The current situation is affecting all aspects of the travel and tourism industry,” said Rodrigo Esponda, managing director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board. “While we have seen some last-minute changes or cancellations, they have been minimal…”
According to WHO’s daily Coronavirus Situation Report, as of March 12, 2020 there have been only eleven confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Mexico, all of which were “imported,” meaning that those affected acquired the infection while traveling outside of the country.
But, during a press conference on Thursday morning, Mexico’s Ministry of Health reported two new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of confirmed cases, since the first was reported on February 28, to thirteen.
To date, there have been 326 suspected cases of Coronavirus in Mexico – 49 of which remain under observation, while 264 have tested negative. The 13 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country occurred in Mexico City and in the states of Puebla, Sinaloa, Coahuila and Chiapas.
“So far, all of the cases are minor and do not present any risk. “Nevertheless, all of the newly infected people, and those with whom they have had contact, will remain isolated for two weeks,” the Mexico Health Ministry’s general director of Epidemiology, José Luis Alomía, said during a press conference on Wednesday evening.
Jean-Marc Gabastou, an adviser in emergency health for the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization who attended the Health Ministry’s press conference, said that Mexico was among the first countries to implement diagnostic capacity in each of its 32 states, with a total of 40 laboratories. “This country has always been one step ahead,” he added.
Click HERE for the World Health Organization’s recommendations for international travel in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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