The transmission rate of Covid-19 in Jalisco hasn’t declined, but from Monday, June 15 the state government will allow the gradual reopening of shopping malls, hotels, beaches, sports clubs and churches, even though the governor is urging people only to go out for essential reasons and stay at home as much as possible.
As of Saturday, June 13, Jalisco had registered 6,357 confirmed Covid-19 cases in 91 of its 125 municipalities. The death toll is 327 in 36 municipalities – one-third of them in municipal Guadalajara (one in Chapala, two in Jocotepec). In total, Mexico has 142,690 confirmed cases and 16,872 deaths.
With Jalisco’s economic reactivation progressing into Governor Enrique Alfaro’s newly named “Phase of Individual Responsibility,” around 80 percent of the state’s workforce will have soon returned to their jobs.
As of Monday, commercial malls can open, but parking lots will be only allowed to operate to 25 percent of their capacity, while one family member at a time will be allowed in shops. “Common areas” must be cordoned off, and all malls will remain shut on Saturdays and Sundays.
Hotels can accept all categories of guests but only operate to 25 percent capacity, although common areas and pools may open. No group activities will be permitted. Beaches in Jalisco will be opened (the neighboring state of Nayarit, however, has decided to keep theirs closed) and monitored by government employees to ensure everyone respects sanitary and social distancing regulations. Protocols for the reactivation of activities (golf, fishing trips etc.) will be discussed next week.
The 25-percent capacity and one family-member-only rule will also apply to gyms and sports clubs. Churches may hold services but only be one-quarter full, with a maximum of 50 worshippers. Services should be as brief as possible.
Municipal authorities will be charged with ensuring that businesses in different sectors adhere to the sanitary requirements mandated in the state government’s “Phase Zero” rule book.
Remaining closed are schools, teaching institutes, cantinas, casinos, cinemas, theaters, museums, event halls, water parks, spas, swimming pools, zoos and other establishments where large numbers of people could gather. Also off limits are “urban parks” (bosques urbanos), including Guadalajara’s large Parque Metropolitano, and all public sports venues (soccer pitches, basketball courts, etc.). The Sunday Via RecreActiva car-free activity will stay suspended.
Stores in busy “commercial corridors,” such as the Obregon and Medrano shopping zones in Guadalajara, will be allowed to open but entry to these areas will be strictly monitored to avoid conglomerations.