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The pandemic is now in a much better phase than we saw a few years ago when it all started in 2020. Then, we saw closed airports and lockdowns that never seemed to come to an end. Now, two years later, vaccines are widely available, and travel is again booming.
Although the virus is not as alarming as it was, it is still required and recommended to use face masks indoors, especially in large airports and closed spaces. Unfortunately, this is not an instruction that tourists in Cancun are taking.
Recently, a video filmed in the crowded Cancun International Airport showed many people without their masks and not respecting the social distancing. All of these are basic protocols to prevent the spread of the virus recommended by the World Health Organization and health specialists all around the world since the start of the pandemic.
It is paramount to remember that, in fact, it is mandatory to use face masks in the Cancun Airport. The company that runs the airport, ASUR, assures that this measure is obligatory for all passengers from all destinations.
The governor of Quintana Roo, Carlos Joaquín González, spoke about the subject, urging people to return the usage of face masks, especially in closed spaces with little ventilation, where it’s easier to spread the virus.
The state has just surpassed 300 covid cases daily, worrying health authorities and politicians as the summer season is about to begin and Cancun is one of the most wanted destinations for Americans this season.
Despite the ASUR mandate and the governor’s appeal, tourists don’t seem to obey nor listen to recommendations. Some conflicts are being reported in the airport as ASUR employers try to demand the use of masks, but no official mandate is employed in the state or the city.
On May 10th, Quintana Roo officially announced that the mask usage would change from mandatory to voluntary, defecting the decision to the owners of establishments. Daily cases at the time were at an all-time low, and this decision was being made worldwide. As a result, many places worldwide dropped the mask mandate and are not intending to employ it again. The same goes for Quintana Roo and Mexico.
After this decision, many might think and act as if the pandemic is over and things should be exactly as it was a few years prior. But, as a worldwide destination, Quintana Roo sees an uptick in cases and this recommendation from the governor is a reminder that people should be careful and still beware of what can happen in the worst-case scenario.
Cancun is experiencing an enormous travel boom. For example, during the holiday season of Holy Week and Easter, which lasted from April 9th to 24th, the airport saw a flow of 200.000 tourists, with an economic revenue of close to 1 billion dollars. Despite the ineluctable consequences of dropping the mask usage, this expressive number most likely helped the governor’s decision, as Quintana Roo relies heavily on tourism on many of its astonishing beaches.
It’s almost a consensus worldwide that we won’t have to go through the dark periods of a high number of death, infections, and lockdowns. Currently, 61.4% of the world is fully vaccinated, with countries close to 100%. Death numbers are meager, and things are way brighter for everyone, but this doesn’t mean the pandemic is over. As a mandatory measure, it is crucial always to respect the mandates and follow the orders to keep travel happening for everyone’s benefit.
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