Mexico News Today Monday, March 1, 2021

 

MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2021

‘Living tourism:’ new kind of experience is vision for Maya Ka’an region of Quintana Roo An environmentally-friendly initiative involving eight towns seeks to give visitors an authentic cultural encounter without the damage often caused by large-scale tourism. FULL STORY

No red states remain on coronavirus map None of Mexico's states are at maximum-risk for Covid-19 any longer. The majority of states have now been painted medium-risk yellow on the updated national stoplight map and will stay so for the next two weeks. FULL STORY

Don’t let organized crime control Mexico's elections, urges López Obrador The president called on citizens to report candidates using public money or resources from criminals to fund their political campaigns. FULL STORY CFE reverses decision to withhold blackout data Under pressure from the president, the Federal Electricity Commission has changed its mind about classifying for two years the details of a massive power outage in December. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT MEXICO LIFE Former Caribbean art students’ careers thrive across the sea in Mexico A short-lived UNAM program meant to open its doors to foreign art students left behind a legacy of artists who settled here, Leigh Thelmadatter writes. FULL STORY MEXICO LIFE Young writer pens children’s book based on his own adventures in Mexico Though not yet out of middle school, Arden Pala is already an author. His latest tome for young readers raises money for a Covid-19 fund, Rich Tenorio writes. FULL STORY Massacre in Jalisco: 11 dead after shooting in Tonalá A mass shooting in Guadalajara’s metropolitan area Saturday left 11 people dead and two seriously injured, closing out a violent month. FULL STORY AMLO to propose US legalize migratory flows from south of the border President López Obrador said that he will ask his United States counterpart to create legal channels for workers from Mexico and Central America seeking sanctioned employment in the U.S. FULL STORY Morena to reopen candidate selection process after outcry over rape allegations Facing pressure to dump an alleged rapist running for governor in Guerrero, the party announced it would conduct a new selection process. FULL STORY Audit finds deficiencies in 22 of 45 Oaxaca roadbuilding projects The Ministry of Communications and Transportation found that all the cited roads had problems, including poor quality construction materials and violations of government building codes. FULL STORY Government considers reducing area set aside for endangered porpoise The Environment Ministry is debating curtailing the size of a zone in the upper Gulf of California where the vaquita is protected. FULL STORY Home Depot to invest 3.3 billion pesos to boost its  e-commerce, add stores The company is improving its website to give online customers essentially the same shopping options as they have in physical stores. FULL STORY MEXICO LIFE Salmon: as many ways to make it as fish in the sea In chowder, burgers, salad, rice bowls — the variety of delicious ways you can use this fish will definitely keep your mealtimes interesting, Janet Blaser writes in this week's The Tropical Table. FULL STORY THE MND POLL THE STORY: Electricity law could represent another blow for foreign investment: analysts. FULL STORY THE QUESTION:  How attractive is Mexico as a destination for foreign investment? VOTE HERE LAST POLL: Has Morena made a poor choice by nominating a candidate accused of sexual assault? 96% think the party was in the wrong. FULL RESULTS

What's Happening in Mexico Right Now?

 

Laura Bronner | Eternal Expat via n.convertkit.com	10:30 AM (3 hours ago)
to me

Hi Mexico-loving friends,

I hope this email finds you well.

It's been an interesting few weeks here in Mexico and there is lots of good news to announce as of today regarding covid in Mexico.

Feeling at Home in San Jose del Cabo

We've now been living in San Jose del Cabo for about three weeks and we've really fallen in love.

I like to believe that I'm one of those people that can make anywhere feel like home (like when I lived in a rural Korean town for a year!), but there's something about San Jose del Cabo that really does feel like home.

We've been loving our days here. When we're not working from home, we're walking to the beach, wandering the colorful streets of the Centro Historico, sitting in the plaza with a paleta, and enjoying lots and lots of seafood tacos.

You can catch up with all of the videos and blog posts for the last two weeks here:

• We Moved to San Jose Del Cabo!
• San Jose del Cabo Vs Cabo San Lucas
• Life in San Jose del Cabo
• An AMAZING Food Tour in San Jose del Cabo
• How to Find an Apartment in Mexico
• Todos Santos: A Complete Guide

What's Happening in Mexico Right Now?

Case numbers continue to decline in most parts of the country as the vaccine is being rolled out. There is a 42% decrease in daily case numbers this month, which now means there are no states in the "red" on the traffic light system.

Quintana Roo, the state where Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are, has just moved from orange to yellow on the traffic light system. This means fewer restrictions, more capacity in restaurants and hotels, and in general that things appear to be moving in the right direction. You can read all about that in this article.

Other states that have moved into the yellow today are Baja California Sur, Nayarit (where Sayulita is), Jalisco (home to Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta), and Veracruz.

This article breaks down all of the changes that are occurring today around Mexico with regard to the traffic light system.

Although Mexico City remains in the orange, they are removing several restrictions that they had previously. From last week (February 22nd), you can once again dine indoors with a 20% capacity given to restaurants. Read all about the restrictions currently in place in Mexico City here.

I also highly recommend following Ubish Yaren on Instagram if you are interested in keeping as up to date as possible about what's happening in Mexico City. He is offering regular weekly updates about the situation there.

As always, a great place to keep up to date with news about Mexico in English is Mexico News Daily.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to email me by simply hitting reply on this email.

Speak soon,

Laura

How to Get a COVID-19 Test Abroad

 

How to Get a COVID-19 Test Abroad

Peter Thornton - February 23, 2021

International travelers are now required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to the U.S. This includes both foreigners and U.S. citizens. If you have an international trip coming up, you may wonder how you’ll be able to get tested abroad so that you’ll be able to fly back home.

Testing Required to Enter U.S.

While several countries still have an outright ban on travel for U.S. citizens (if not all international travelers) there are still places where Americans are allowed to travel. Some popular destinations where Americans are currently traveling include Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean, to name a few. Testing has been required to enter most countries for a while, but now you’ll also need to take a viral test within three calendar days before your flight to the U.S. departs. Here’s how.

Check with the U.S. Embassy

The Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs recommends that you check with the U.S. Embassy for the specific country you are flying to. This is the most reliable resource for information on whether U.S. citizens are able to take a test in any given country, where it is possible, and how long it is expected to take.

It should be noted that the embassies themselves are not administering tests and travelers are required to pay any fees associated with taking a test in a foreign country. It may be best to schedule an appointment to ensure you’ll be able to get a test in time. These websites provide an excellent overview of the virus situation at large in any given country and should always be part of the planning process when traveling abroad.

Test at Your Hotel

Believe it or not, hotels are adding testing as a perk to lure travelers towards their properties. Hyatt Hotels Corporation is offering complimentary tests to guests at its resorts in Latin America and the Caribbean through May 31, 2021. Each individual property may require a minimum stay for the free test and the offer is valid for up to two people per room. Additional guests can receive a test for a fee.

There are several other hotel groups and individual properties that are offering free testing to guests. Couples Resorts in Jamaica, Hard Rock all-inclusive resorts in Mexico/Caribbean, and Velas Resorts, to name a few. Los Cabos is even implementing a program to provide free or low-cost testing (starting at $60) at all of its resorts. This is likely to become more common as hotels and cities are trying to bring back tourists and want to make it as easy as possible for their guests to travel safely. When checking for a place to stay, it’s a good idea to call your hotel and check if testing will be available on-site.

Book an All-Inclusive Tour

If you’re the type of traveler who likes to have everything taken care of, there are some luxury tour groups that will arrange it all for you, including your required COVID-19 test before your return flight to the U.S. Heading to the Galapagos Islands? Book with Metropolitan Touring and they’ll arrange a test for you in Quito or Guayaquil before your trip to the islands and before your flight back home.

Classic Journeys, a travel company providing all kinds of tours all over the world, is incorporating testing into the last few days of all international tours so participants won’t need to worry about arranging a test themselves. Embark Beyond goes even further by offering an add-on insurance for $43/day, which, in addition to in-room testing prior to your flight to the U.S., guarantees a return to the U.S. by medical transport should you test positive.

Ask Your Airline

Airlines are also gathering information on where testing can be done for its passengers while abroad. This can be a great way to streamline your test results to your airline as it is the airline’s responsibility to check that you have a negative test before you board your flight to the U.S. Delta and United both have search tools on their website for you to locate testing centers while abroad. Sun Country has a handy list of testing sites for several of its Mexico destinations and other airlines are likely to provide you with some information on where you can get tested by calling customer service.  

Test at the Airport

Airports around the world are also implementing COVID-19 testing stations as it is likely to be a standard for international travel for the foreseeable future. In Mexico, multiple airports have either already started or soon plan to offer on-site testing for international travelers. You’ll be able to get a test at Cancun (CUN) Airport, but it states that the mobile testing units are a last-resort and strongly recommends getting tested before arriving at the airport.

A test at the airport could be one of the most convenient locations if your hotel itself doesn’t offer testing, but keep in mind that testing supplies at airports could be limited. Make sure to check your airport’s website so you know if testing is available and if you’re able to make an appointment to take a test before your flight.Adapting to the new way of travel will take some time, but the testing procedures put in place will make for a safer experience all around. And if you’re still having trouble finding a place to get tested abroad, you can check out this great crowd-sourced search tool at testfortravel.com. Simply enter the city and type of test you’re looking for. It will give you a list of locations with contact information so you can call and double check on the availability of testing.

All products and services mentioned on Airfarewatchdog are independently selected by our team of expert travelers. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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5 Ways to Get a COVID-19 Test Abroad

 

Now that a negative COVID-19 test is required to enter the U.S., it's more important than ever that you know where you can get tested abroad.

Mexico News Today Friday, February 26, 2021

 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021

Pemex lost nearly 500bn pesos last year The company faced the ‘worst crisis’ in its history, reporting a loss of US $23 billion, which is 38.2% more than it lost in 2019. FULL STORY

US urges Mexico to heed private sector concerns over electricity market overhaul A United States assistant secretary of state told reporters that Mexico should listen to what business stakeholders are saying about the government's proposed overhaul of the electricity market. FULL STORY

Over 100 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine expected by the end of May A total of 3.3 million doses are expected this month, with over 100 million expected over March, April and May. FULL STORY Foreign residents assured of vaccine eligibility in CDMX Non-Mexicans who live in the city are eligible to receive Covid-19 inoculation even if they don’t have an ID card proving residence, promised a government official. FULL STORY At least 8 dead, 2 missing after community attempts to repel armed attack The killings and abductions occurred during clashes in Guerrero between residents and members of a criminal gang. FULL STORY Tulum police arrest gay couple for kissing in public ‘with children present’ Municipal officers in the Quintana Roo city briefly arrested the men at a beach, but an angry crowd came to their defense. FULL STORY Chihuahua priest is found guilty of sexual assault of 8-year-old girl The 78-year-old Catholic clergyman was convicted this week after evidence from more than 20 witnesses. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT Mexico’s fishermen adapt, innovate while government lags behind: expert Omar Vidal interviews sustainable fisheries advocate Jorge Torre on the 'mismatch' between industry needs and the pace of federal policy. FULL STORY MEXICO LIFE Southern Mixtecs find challenges and successes in Mexico's northwest Over a century, thousands of members of the indigenous group have been migrating to the Baja Peninsula to find better economic opportunities, Leigh Thelmadatter writes. FULL STORY GDP plunged 8.5% in 2020, worst decline in 90 years It's official – Mexico recorded its worst economic contraction since the Great Depression as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the economy. FULL STORY Details of December’s massive blackout to be kept under wraps for 2 years CFE will keep information about the blackout secret until 2023, saying that releasing it right now could trigger social unrest. FULL STORY Witness testified in US court about former Tamaulipas governor's Gulf Cartel ties The former state leader, accused by Mexico's Attorney General's Office of ties to organized crime, illicit enrichment and tax fraud, has cartel links dating back to 2004, according to testimony in a U.S. case. FULL STORY Bill Gates: Mexico should bet on education, not oil The Microsoft founder said in an interview that he would urge President López Obrador to invest in the nation's educational institutions rather than fossil fuels. FULL STORY Monarch butterfly numbers in Mexico down by 26% Illegal logging and climate change contributed to the reduction in the number of monarch butterflies overwintering here in 2020-2021. FULL STORY OPINION Texas freeze heats up López Obrador’s energy self-sufficiency plans Crazy as it sounds, the Texas freeze was manna from heaven for President López Obrador’s nationalistic energy ambitions, Jude Webber writes. FULL STORY MEXICO LIFE Let your imagination run wild at Villa Felicidad’s idyllic stone fairyland  Ancient volcanic ash flow likely gave this Jalisco site fascinating fumaroles — rock structures that look like columns, tree stumps, and more, John Pint writes. FULL STORY MEXICO LIFE Travel YouTuber looks off the beaten path for his Mexican adventures Texas native Blake Wilkinson came to Guadalajara two years ago to be a snowbird, but he found his dream documenting his new life online, David Webb writes. FULL STORY

• Not so fast: governments put brakes on private schools’ plan to reopen  • Music and dancing turn vaccination into a lively affair in Mexico City  • Amazon to build new distribution center in México state