COVID-19: Mexicans will return to work and school between May 17 and June 1

On April 16, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that based on projections and if the population follows health measures, children will return to school and people to work on May 17, in the 979 municipalities that haven’t registered one single COVID-19 case. In the case of the 463 municipalities that have been affected by coronavirus , the quarantine will end on June 1.

During his daily news conference, López Obrador said the list of municipalities that will lift the partial lockdown on May 17 will be released soon. However, authorities will ask elders and other vulnerable groups from all over the country to stay home.

Moreover, Dr. Hugo López-Gatell , Mexico’s COVID-19 czar, said the coronavirus epidemic in the metropolitan area could end on June 25, as long as people stay home and physically distance in the incoming weeks.

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In order to halt the spread of the virus , authorities announced the physical distance policy will be enforced until May 30.

Besides physical distancing, scientists have also suggested the implementation of other measures that would prevent people from affected areas to travel to areas with no COVID-19 cases and the other way around. They have also proposed that the protection measure remains in place for the elderly, people with chronic diseases , and pregnant women after May 30.

Therefore, it is now expected that Mexico will return to economic and social activities on June 1.

However, Dr. López-Gatell added that even if the country has yet to enter phase three of its contingency plan , there are areas that are being handled as such.

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Phase 3 

Mexico will enter the third phase of its contingency once there are thousands of COVID-19 cases.

During this stage, people won’t be able to shake hands, kiss, hug. All public events would be canceled. Schools and workplaces where authorities have registered COVID-19 outbreaks would be temporarily closed.

However, Mexican authorities closed schools a month ago and the majority of public events have been canceled.

Dr. López-Gatell emphasized how essential it is to stay at home during this stage since it could flatten the contagion curve and prevent the collapse of Mexico’s healthcare system .

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