Nasty weather in the U.S. may make many people want to escape south of the border. However, travelers are currently advised to avoid Mexico, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Wednesday, the CDC reported that COVID-19 transmission in Mexico was at “Level 4” denoting “very high” transmission. This level is the highest in the CDC’s COVID-19 warning system and the centers advise avoiding travel to any Level 4 destinations.
“If you must travel to Mexico, make sure you are vaccinated and up to date with your COVID-19 vaccines before travel,” said the CDC, which recommends Moderna and Pfizer two-dose mRNA vaccines that have both been granted full FDA approval. Booster shots are available for both vaccines.
The centers said Monday that even those who have up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations might want to avoid Mexico at the present time. Breakthrough infections have been reported in vaccinated persons, and those who have asymptomatic infections can spread the virus.
For people in Mexico, the CDC recommends than anyone over 2 years old wear a well-fitting mask in indoor public spaces, along with following any COVID-19 mitigation rules in place in Mexico.
Prior to the CDC warning about COVID-19 levels in Mexico, the U.S. Consulate General Merida issued a Jan. 25 emergency alert about criminal activity in Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum.
“U.S. citizens are reminded to exercise increased caution when traveling to the state of Quintana Roo,” said the alert. “Criminal activity and violence may occur throughout the state, including areas frequented by U.S. citizen visitors.”
According to USA Today, two Canadian guests were killed and other was injured last month at the Hotel Xcaret México, a Quintana Roo luxury hotel located in Playa Del Carmen along the Caribbean coastline. There have been other incidents in recent months.
In addition to adhering to COVID-19 mitigation guidelines, anyone traveling from the U.S. to Quintana Roo is advised to monitor the local news, avoid crowds, be aware of their surroundings, review personal security plans and contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy if in need of assistance.
Furthermore, Quintana Roo is not the only area of Mexico where travelers should be cautious of crime, according to the U.S. State Department. It recommends travelers avoid traveling to: Colima state, Guerrero state, Michoacan state, Sinaloa state and Tamaulipas state. It also advises travelers reconsider visiting 14 other areas, including Mexico City.
Even as these warnings are in place, Gustavo Flores-Macías – associate vice provost for international affairs at Cornell University – told USA Today that traveling to Mexico is “generally safe” overall.
“I don't mean to trivialize the gravity of what happened,” Flores-Macías said. “But there are tens of millions of people that visit Mexico every year…and these events, they are very shocking, but fortunately they're not particularly prevalent. This is still something that occurs very rarely.”
He recommends that all travelers exercise caution.
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