CDC Warns Americans to Refrain from Visiting Mexico

The CDC advises American tourists to stop visiting Mexico for now as the death toll in the said country rises.

America’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention encourages citizens to avoid visiting Mexico for the time being. This is due to Mexico’s alarming number of COVID-19 deaths. At the moment, the CDC puts Mexico on its level 4 list, the highest category related to COVID-19. For those, however, who need to travel to the said country, they are required to take a viral test three days before leaving the US and three days prior to arriving back in the States.

CDC also requires travelers visiting Mexico to wear their masks at all times during the span of their stay in the said country. They are mandated to take another viral test three to five days after going back to the US, as well. They also need to isolate themselves for at least seven days after their Mexican travel.

World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announces on Monday that “Mexico is in bad shape.” He urges Mexican authorities to take control of the situation and increase their efforts towards the fight against the virus. Also, he tells them to be better examples to their own citizens, allowing everyone to realize the deadly impact of the COVID-19 virus.

The WHO leader’s words came after Mexico’s total number of COVID-19 deaths went up to 105,940, the current top four highest total worldwide, with more than one million novel coronavirus cases. Likewise, the country is believed to have a much higher number of undocumented cases due its low testing incidence. “The number of increasing cases and deaths in Mexico is very worrisome,” Ghebreyesus mentions.

President Andrés López Obrador of Mexico has been widely criticized due to his penchant for not wearing a mask. “We would like to ask Mexico to be very serious. We have said it in general, wearing a mask is important, hygiene is important and physical distancing is important and we expect leaders to be examples,” Ghebreyesus stresses.

Hugo López-Gatell, Mexico’s point man for the COVID-19 struggle mentions that such comments are accepted but he points out that the government is doing its job, pointing out that citizens were constantly reminded about the coming of winter when the coronavirus could become even more uncontrollable. New data highlights that the coronavirus situation has already worsened by 7%.

Because of this condition, Americans are forewarned about the danger of visiting Mexico at this time. Non-essential travel is highly discouraged and authorities are recommending citizens to stay at home while the raging coronavirus transmission can heighten during these cold months.

At present, the United States remains the country with the most COVID-19 cases in the world. As vaccines are being developed and said to be available to the public soon, the need to take extra precaution remains the protocol of every nation. Physical distancing is a must and wearing masks is the best protection while outside one’s home. For a time, many tourist spots in Mexico have opened their doors to tourists. However, the grave situation there discourages travelers from visiting Mexico for now.