Hundreds of cars wait at the border crossing in the city of Tijuana, on June 14, 2021.Joebeth Terriquez / EFE
The United States this Sunday extended the restrictions on non-essential land travel for people from Mexico and Canada until July 21 to avoid a rebound in covid-19. This has been announced by the US Department of Homeland Security in a statement in which it assured that the measures do not affect trade or essential travel. The US has also prohibited the arrival of ferries from these two countries. The extension of the restrictions occurs in the midst of a scenario for Mexico that combines outbreaks in some parts of the country, such as the capital, and two consecutive weeks of decline in the population's vaccination numbers.
To reduce the spread of # COVID19, the United States is extending restrictions on non-essential travel at our land and ferry crossings with Canada and Mexico through July 21, while ensuring access for essential trade & travel.
- Homeland Security (@DHSgov) June 20, 2021
The Department of Homeland Security has highlighted "positive developments in recent weeks" in their joint work with other US agencies, and representatives from Canada and Mexico to "identify the conditions under which the restrictions can be safely and safely relaxed. sustainable".
The three governments held meetings last week to discuss this issue and plan to hold them every two weeks until the opening is achieved, as reported by
Reuters
.
Last Friday Canada also announced that it was extending its entry restrictions into the country that have been in force since March 2020 and expire next Monday. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that the border with the United States would remain closed until 75% of Canadians have been vaccinated against COVID-19 with at least the first dose and 20% have received both. .
As part of the project to open the land border with the United States, Mexico began vaccinating the entire population over 18 years of age in the State of Baja California a few days ago. Tijuana is located in that entity, one of the most important border crossings in the 3,100-kilometer border. The closure has caused a major economic halt in some groups historically accustomed to crossing to carry out their work.
The Mexican Ministry of Health reported 1,578 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 36 deaths on Sunday.
The figures leave a total of more than two million infected and 231,187 deaths.
Mexico was falling in infections, but the numbers portray an increase of 8% in the last week.
The country never closed its borders and handled the restrictions due to the pandemic through a colored traffic light according to epidemiological risks.
The outbreak that emerged in recent days has forced some areas, such as Mexico City, to suspend activities again due to the spread of the virus.
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