Cancun, Q.R. — The Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) has imposed more than 30 million peso in fines on hundreds of businesses this year for non-compliance with sanitary measures. Of those fined, 16 were laboratories and clinics with repeat offenders being the most common.
Miguel Pino Murillo, director of Cofepris said that 70 percent of the fined businesses were in the northern region of the state.
The laboratories that they have fined represented a risk for users since they did not guarantee a real test, he said. He added that one problem they still have is nightclubs that do not respect the maximum capacity limit, nor do they disinfect the work place.
He also said that are going to start carrying out regular verifications on party boats heading out to sea, noting that he recently sanctioned a boat for overcrowding.
“These sanctions so far this year range from 17,000 to 170,000 peso and are made in order to safeguard everyone,” he said.
This month, 92 businesses were shut for non-compliance. To date, more than 600 have been fined.
Yohanet Torres Muñoz, head of the Ministry of Finance and Planning (Sefiplan) said that the verifications carried out are not for the purpose of closing businesses and / or imposing fines, but to invite establishments to collaborate with respecting the health measures, particularly in the area of maximum capacities and hours of operations.
Torres Muñoz pointed out that most of the sanctioned establishments are repeat offenders.