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Quintana Roo Governor Suggests The Current Trajectory Would Allow State To Remove Mask Restrictions Outside
Cancun could be completely mask-free outdoors by mid-April according to the Quintana Roo Governor, Carlos Joaquin. The masks mandate for indoor spaces is expected to remain for at least a little while longer.
In a weekend announcement, Joaquin suggested that if the current trends continue, the current restrictions requiring everyone to wear masks in public could be removed. He listed the first two weeks in April as a prospective time period for the changes.
He said, “It is important not to let our guard down, Easter is coming and the return to face-to-face classes is 100%, so it will be important to follow health measures.” However, after mentioning the health measures, he also stated that these changes “could occur in the first fortnight of the same month if there are no spikes in infections.”
The COVID infection rate is dropping quickly and things are looking much better for Cancun and the entire state of Quintana Roo. Similar trends are being seen across the world, even if areas where the rate are still relatively high.
The announcement will be great news for the local tourist industry as it continues to place Cancun at the forefront of free travel. Mexico as a whole has never closed its borders, regardless of the COVID rate, making it one of the most appealing destinations in the world. Cancun has reaped the benefits of this and has catapulted itself to the top of the planet’s most desired cities.
As the rest of the world begins to open up its borders, particularly competitors in the Caribbean, Quintana Roo may have a fight on its hands to keep ahold of its newfound market. Continuing to have less regulations than its rivals will help keep the bulk of its tourists regardless of the decisions they make.
Joaquin’s announcement came almost two years after the world began its shutdown due to COVID. The travel industry has changed dramatically since that time and in a positive manner for Cancun. It is still fighting a PR battle against its reputation for gang violence which is anticipated to go on for some time.
Steps are being made to combat this problem, and it’s hoped that the added presence of the National Guard will help keep tourists away from bigger concerns. With that said, regular violence is grabbing the headlines including the brutal assassination of a British ex-pat which will likely draw further questions of the region’s safety.
Health and Safety standards are also a battle for Quintana Roo to deal with. Accidental deaths and injuries call the abilities of Cancun to keep tourists safe and healthy into question too. Recently, two divers were killed by another tourist company’s boat as it closed through waters that it should not have been in.
Yet another instance of health and safety concerns is the recent explosion in Playa del Carmen. A gas leak prompted a large explosion in a popular restaurant, killing two employees and injuring as many as twenty more people. Four tourists were included on the injured list.
Good news came this week in the form of a reduction in the Travel Advisory Level for the region. Although not an actual ban, Cancun has been under a “Level 4:Do Not Travel” for some time, which may influence travelers’ decisions. It is now at a “Level 3: Reconsider Travel”.
Cancun is looking forward to an incredibly busy Easter season, with as many as 3 million visitors pouring in from across the globe. It’s hoped there will be no more incidents over the coming weeks to help carry the momentum forward.
Of course, the addition of so many people does make a spike in COVID possible. With careful planning and luck, the spikes won’t be terribly large and the mask mandate can be dropped by mid-April.
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