Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro has ruled out any extension of the 14-day Covid-19 nighttime and weekend emergency restrictions that expire on Friday, November 13.
All “non-essential” businesses and services, commercial malls, supermarkets and restaurants will be able operate during their regular business hours. Gatherings of up to 50 persons are permitted once more, while public transportation returns to its regular schedules.
The decision to implement a partial statewide lockdown was taken after health experts became concerned at a spike in infections and hospitalizations at the end of October.
Alfaro said Thursday that he believes the “chain of infections has been broken.” On social media he produced a graphic showing that the number of active Covid-19 cases had fallen from 4,532 on October 31 to 3,692 on November 11.
Despite the lifting of the measures, the governor urged inhabitants of Jalisco to “act responsibly” and avoid “conglomerations of people.”
During the final weekend of the boton de emergencia, Guadalajara municipal authorities were alerted to 218 parties taking place even though gatherings were limited to ten people. In the majority of cases, only warnings were issued to the partygoers.
An acid test will come this weekend during the final days of an extended Buen Fin (Mexico’s shopping blitz similar to Black Friday in the United States), when retailers will be offering enticing discounts on merchandise. Although metro-area mayors have urged shoppers to go online and search for bargains, there are fears that malls may become overcrowded and Covid-19 “super spreader” locations.