Mexico News Today Wednesday January 20, 2021

 

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021

Mexico sees record number of Covid deaths Nearly half a million people are now vaccinated, but Mexico hit a new single-day record for coronavirus deaths on Tuesday and had its third-highest total for new cases. FULL STORY

Best-case scenario for international tourism this year: 26% fewer visitors than in 2019 The number of foreign travelers to Mexico will increase 33.7% in 2021 compared to last year, say the Tourism Ministry's rosiest predictions. FULL STORY

Federal Covid loan program to aid small businesses The government will help 60,000 establishments affected by the coronavirus pandemic and related economic restrictions. FULL STORY Political group says poor have been hit hardest by Covid, lack of support The coronavirus and the lack of government aid to mitigate its economic impact appear to have significantly increased inequality. FULL STORY Pfizer cuts vaccine deliveries As Mexico faces its worst month of the coronavirus pandemic, Pfizer factory work caused a Tuesday Covid vaccine shipment to arrive with only half the expected doses and immunization delays to come. FULL STORY Water shortage creates emergency for 15,000 farm families in Tamaulipas A lack of irrigation water could push farmers into bankruptcy because they can't plant new crops. FULL STORY Environment ministry to declare a new land reserve in San Luis Potosí The San Miguelito Sierra will be made a natural protected area in the second half of this year, the federal agency said. FULL STORY OPINION The AMLOve affair is over: why I’ve changed my mind about the president President López Obrador generated lots of good faith at the beginning of his presidency, but these days it's gotten so hard to defend him, Sarah DeVries writes. FULL STORY MEXICO LIFE  Scholar’s mission: help modern readers discover a Mayan creation story Learning about the Popol Vuh as a teen, Amherst College scholar Ilan Stavans was fascinated by the millennia-old text, Rich Tenorio writes. FULL STORY For Joe Biden, contentious issues lie ahead in the Mexico-US relationship Strained security cooperation as well as opposing views on climate change and renewable energy will loom high on the agenda, Jude Webber writes. FULL STORY Former ambassador to manage border policy in Biden administration Rachel Jacobson will be coordinator for the southwestern border on the United States National Security Council. FULL STORY Spaniards massacred women, children in reprisal for sacrifices, cannibalism The mass killings occurred in an Aztec-allied town 500 years ago after residents sacrificed and apparently ate a group of Spaniards. FULL STORY 68% of Mexicans feel unsafe in their communities; number down from 73% Almost seven in 10 Mexican adults fear violence where they live. Fresnillo, Zacatecas, is seen as the least safe city in the country. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT 'Overtaken by crime:' 9 murdered in Fresnillo The Zacatecas city's mayor acknowledged that the notoriously unsafe municipality has little ability to combat violence. FULL STORY OPINION Power outage dims Mexico's climate change hopes  In 2015, the US hailed Mexico for setting an example on climate policy. The president’s championing of fossil fuels has changed all that, Jude Webber writes. FULL STORY

• These Mexico City labs offer PCR tests to travelers who require them • President defends federal funding of his brother’s baseball team’s stadium • Zihuatanejo’s Paella Fest gets creative in the face of Covid-19 • Marriott to open new ‘lifestyle hotel’ in Tulum next month

Elephants "Singing" with Piano in Their Own Way

 

Mexico News Today Monday, January 18, 2021

 

MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2021

In month's first 2 weeks, Covid deaths soared Halfway through January, fatalities were up 3,726, 35% higher than the number of deaths seen between December 16 and 31. In the same time period, new cases of Covid this month went up 28%. FULL STORY RELATED: 10 states at maximum risk as new Covid cases skyrocket by 21,366 in one day. FULL STORY

‘We won’t be silent over irresponsible investigation’ President López Obrador declared that his government won't stay quiet over a probe by the United States government into Mexico's former defense minister, Salvador Cienfuegos. FULL STORY

Doctor in charge of Covid vaccination program quits The chief has resigned just as Mexico is ramping up immunization, but an official says it won't affect the program. FULL STORY Morena candidate for governor of Guerrero holds a party for 500 guests A controversial former senator who will run for election in the state held a massive birthday party in violation of coronavirus restrictions. FULL STORY At a Covid crossroads, some Cholula businesses fear they’ve closed for good In normal times, this Puebla magical town is a major tourist site. But these are anything but normal times, Joseph Sorrentino writes. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT MEXICO LIFE Fresh spinach is the chieftain of leafy greens The vegetable is not the enemy your young self might remember. It makes a versatile addition to the most decadent of meals any time of day, Janet Blaser writes in The Tropical Table. FULL STORY MEXICO LIFE Mexico City residents fight crime’s arrival in their neighborhood Eduardo Klein, a Mexico City restaurateur in Polanco, decided to act when gangs moved into the neighborhood and began extorting businesses, Leigh Thelmadatter writes. FULL STORY Mexico accused of violating treaty after releasing US evidence against Cienfuegos The United States Department of Justice rejected President López Obrador's claim that the drug trafficking case against the former defense minister was fabricated. FULL STORY Women take up arms to protect their homes from CJNG in Michoacán The group in the Tierra Caliente region has formed a self-defense brigade, saying there are hardly any men left to defend their small town from the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. FULL STORY 12-year-old girl gives birth in México state; will receive government support The young girl and her baby boy will receive medical, health and wellness assistance, as well as a 2,500-pesos-per-month stipend. FULL STORY Local official, self-defense force chief among 12 shot and killed in Veracruz The bodies were found on a rural stretch of road in a community in the municipality of Las Choapas, authorities said. FULL STORY THE MND POLL THE STORY: “Transparency watchdog unnecessary if government acts with rectitude:’ AMLO. FULL STORY THE QUESTION:  Is a transparency watchdog no longer necessary now that corrupt, neoliberal governments are a thing of the past in Mexico?  VOTE HERE LAST POLL: Will you obtain a Covid vaccination when it becomes available? 78% said they would. FULL RESULTS

Puerto Escondido Challenge Round One, Heat 1 Jun 24, 2016

 

Changes for Re-Entering the US

 

Changes for Re-Entering the US

Some of you may have already heard, but as of the 21st of January, anyone entering the United States must have proof of a negative Covid test regardless of whether you are a citizen or not. This means if you are leaving Mexico and returning to the US on or after January 21st, you will need to have a Covid test before leaving Mexico.

The US Consulate here in Mexico has conveniently put together a comprehensive list of hospitals all over the country where you can get a Covid test depending on where you will be. You will need to contact the hospitals directly, but it's a great place to get started if you are going to be somewhere in Mexico and aren't sure where to get a Covid test.

You can find that full list here.

What's Happening in Mexico Right Now?

Laura Bronner | Eternal Expat via n.convertkit.com	8:00 AM (27 minutes ago)
to me

Hi Mexico-loving friends,

Happy New Year!

It's been a whirlwind start to the year for us which has included moving to a totally new-to-us place: Baja California Sur.

If you haven't already checked out my videos from this week, you can find out why we moved here and what our plans are for the next few months by watching these video:

• We Moved to Baja California Sur!
• What to Do in La Paz
• La Paz Apartment Tour

What Does Baja California Sur Look Like Right Now?

Like many states around Mexico, Baja California Sur has created its own ranking system within the federal "traffic light" system that already exists. So according to the federal government, Baja California Sur is in Orange right now.

The system in Baja California is numbered from 1-6 with 1 being the safest and with the fewest precautions being take and 6 being the least safe and with the most precautions being taken.

This week (as of the 15th of January) many of the different municipalities changed their rankings, including both Los Cabos and La Paz. La Paz moved from rating #4 to rating #5 which means that many of the tourist activities are no longer allowed. Things that are STILL OPEN include restaurants (at 30% capacity), hotels, shopping centers and stores, beaches, and all other essential businesses like groceries and pharmacies.

Los Cabos moved from #3 to #4, which means lower capacity at places that are open, but for the most part, tourist activities are still permitted.

If you want to read more about what these numbers mean, the Baja California Sur government website is incredibly thorough. It's in Spanish, but it's easy enough to copy and paste much of what is written into Google Translate if you're unsure.

While I was in La Paz, I recorded a video about what the situation looks like there. The malecon is closed but restaurants are open.

You can watch that video here.

What Does Mexico City Look Like Right Now?

Mexico City has been in a full-on "red" emergency lockdown since just before Christmas. Only essential businesses are allowed to operate in-person such as grocery stores and pharmacies and of course medical clinics and hospitals.

All restaurants are take-out or delivery only. All museums and parks are closed. Many metro and metro-bus stations have been closed or are operating at very restricted hours.

Hospitals are almost completely at capacity in Mexico City. I have linked to a few different articles below if you are interested in reading the current state of things in CDMX:

• CDMX and Estado De Mexico Remain at Red Status for Another Week
• Mexico City Hospital Occupancy Reaches 88%

What's Happening in the Other States Around Mexico?

The state of Guanajuato recently went back into the red. This is where you find the cities of San Miguel de Allende, Leon, and of course, Guanajuato. You can read more about that here.

Queretaro has also recently tightened up restrictions. You can watch this video from fellow Mexico-expat Alex about what restrictions exist in Queretaro as of this past week.

Things are changing pretty quickly around the country at the moment with restrictions. Some places like Oaxaca are actually doing better than they were last year while other places like Baja California, Mexico City, and even Puebla are struggling with huge spikes in case numbers and availability in local hospitals. The best place to keep up to date in English with these changes is Mexico News Daily. They share articles constantly about what is changing around the country.

Changes for Re-Entering the US

Some of you may have already heard, but as of the 21st of January, anyone entering the United States must have proof of a negative Covid test regardless of whether you are a citizen or not. This means if you are leaving Mexico and returning to the US on or after January 21st, you will need to have a Covid test before leaving Mexico.

The US Consulate here in Mexico has conveniently put together a comprehensive list of hospitals all over the country where you can get a Covid test depending on where you will be. You will need to contact the hospitals directly, but it's a great place to get started if you are going to be somewhere in Mexico and aren't sure where to get a Covid test.

You can find that full list here.

I hope you have found this email helpful. It's certainly not the clean slate I'm sure most of us were hoping for in 2021, but I hope that these emails help you all with making whatever decisions you are trying to make about Mexico and where it fits into your life in the coming months.

As always, if you have any questions at all, please feel free to hit reply and ask away.

Speak soon,

Laura

Mexico News 2 Days Ago, Friday, January 15, 2021

 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2021

Ex-defense minister cleared of drug charges; AMLO claims the US fabricated evidence The Attorney General's Office has exonerated Salvador Cienfuegos of trafficking and money laundering accusations. FULL STORY

Thursday’s Covid tally: a record 16,468 new cases, 40% of which are in Mexico City The number of coronavirus cases rose to just under 1.59 million on Thursday while the official death toll reached 137,916 with 999 additional deaths. FULL STORY RELATED: Mexico City restaurants to reopen Monday with restrictions. FULL STORY

Of 324 Covid-free ‘municipalities of hope’, just 80 remain untouched Mexico's list of places that have never seen the coronavirus has dwindled over eight months. FULL STORY Fuel theft has supposedly declined, but the violence in Guanajuato has not An apparent paradox has emerged in the state: petroleum pipeline theft has gone down, but not the high levels of violent crime. FULL STORY Ambassador says Mexico rejected offers of help to control arms trafficking The federal government declined to accept equipment to assist in limiting illegal weapons trafficking, the U.S. ambassador to Mexico said. FULL STORY Pemex workers file charges against union officials A group of current and former workers in Campeche have registered a corruption complaint against their local union leader and a former secretary-general. FULL STORY Costly Pemex: former cash cow ate up US $15 billion  Propping up the state oil company is siphoning at least 1.4 points of GDP a year from Mexico's cash-strapped government, Jude Webber writes. FULL STORY Facebookóatl? AMLO moves to create social media network for Mexicans A week after Donald Trump was kicked off Facebook and Twitter, the president floated the idea of creating a national social media network. FULL STORY ‘Searching Mothers’ turn up 19 secret graves in Sonora  The remains of at least 10 people were found in one of the burial sites, located in Ortiz, Guaymas. FULL STORY Elections authority wants to stipulate what AMLO cannot say during campaign The National Electoral Institute is considering putting strict limits on what the president is allowed to say in the lead-up to the elections in June. FULL STORY MEXICO LIFE  From mammoth bones to ziplines, this trail has something for everyone A river that in the 1800s used to host steamboats, El Río de la Pasión forms part of the border between the states of Jalisco and Michoacán, John Pint writes. FULL STORY OPINION With the housebound blues, you take the cure wherever you can get it Cockroach races? Mice safaris? When the virus has kept you locked down in your home for months, boredom starts forcing you to get creative, Bodie Kellogg writes. FULL STORY ADVERTISEMENT

• Elections agency asks if reporters paid to ask questions of AMLO • National Guard assumes policing duties after candidate’s murder • Superbowl avocado exports expected to be up 4% despite coronavirus