Federal, state and local authorities have teamed up to operate roadside sanitary filters at entry points to the Lake Chapala area to discourage the arrival of holiday vacationers and prevent the spread of the Corona virus.
The main route to the north shore is via the Guadalajara-Chapala highway. Police officers manning a check point set up near the Santa Rosa junction where the roadway splits off to Ocotlán are randomly flagging down travelers, especially those carrying more than two passengers or visible loads of luggage, to enquire about their purpose for heading towards Chapala. They may be asked to show official IDs to prove residence at lakeshore addresses.
Red Cross medics are on hand with laser thermometers to test passengers and turn away those with signs of fever. Vehicles may be treated with sanitizing spray.
Similar procedures are being carried out sporadically at other locations, including the north end of Chapala’s Avenida Madero, the south end of the Chapala-Ajijic Libramiento bypass, the Piedra Barrenada restaurant row in San Juan Cosalá and the main highway entry to Jocotepec.
While some motorists have complained about traffic backups caused by the filters, local government officials are more concerned about keeping outsiders from bringing the Covid-19 bug into their communities than any inconveniences for individuals who have been advised to avoid unnecessary outings at a critical time in the disease’s upward spiral.
