Mexico City – Border travel restrictions meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 between the United States and Mexico have been extended through October, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Relations announced in a series of tweets last Thursday.
The travel restrictions, which were to expire on September 21, will now be in effect until 11:59 p.m. October 21, 2020, the agency said.
This is the sixth time the border travel restrictions, which apply to non-essential land traffic to and from the U.S. and Mexico, have been extended since the partial closure was first announced on March 21 as a measure to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The United States is currently the center of the coronavirus pandemic, while Mexico ranks seventh worldwide in number of cases.
While tourists haven’t been permitted to drive into Mexico, flights between the two countries have largely continued since the early days of the pandemic, and thousands of U.S. travelers have been enjoying uncrowded, low-key vacations in beach destinations such as Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos and Cancún since hotels and restaurants reopened, albeit with limited capacity, in June.
Popular resort areas have been allowing U.S. travelers who fly into the country to visit without required quarantines or coronavirus tests. Nevertheless, visitors must undergo a health screening upon arrival at Mexican airports. The level of screening varies and may include taking travelers’ temperatures and filling out a health questionnaire.
The land border restrictions do not affect trade or essential travel, including health care and workers living and working on opposite sides of the border. However, the majority of people attempting to cross into Mexico are doing so for reasons considered non-essential, such as tourism, shopping and recreation.
