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“Quintana Roo is not going to close” says state secretary of health

Cancun, Q.R. — Although federal health officials say the state is experiencing a third wave of infections, state health officials say it will only be a matter of weeks before the situation stabilizes. On Tuesday, José Luis Alomía, Federal Epidemiological Director described the contagion situation in Quintana Roo as a third wave.

In a press conference, he said this wave puts the state at risk of a possible partial closure of businesses, adding that the city of Cancun is an area where mobility should be reduced to stop infections.

He also said “I add that in Mexico, there are three states that have not entered the downline of contagions, but have shown an upward trend.” Of these three states, he said Quintana Roo stands out due to figures provided by the State Secretary of Health.

However, Alejandra Aguirre Crespo, head of the State Secretariat of Health (Sesa) pointed out that tourism protocols are still being strengthened.

During an interview with W. Radio, Aguerre Crespo estimated that in two weeks COVID-19 infections will stabilize in the state and rejected “the closure” of Quintana Roo.

“We hope that we will have stabilization as soon as possible and, I am talking a couple of weeks maximum, where we can have stabilization in the contagion that we are experiencing in Quintana Roo.

“Quintana Roo is not going to close. What Quintana Roo is doing is strengthening health and safety protocols so that both national and international visitors can continue their vacations, their stay in the state in a safe way,” she said.

She also assured that the Government of Quintana Roo seeks a “fair balance” for tourism and health protection. “We have to continue working in Quintana Roo. We have to strengthen in order to harmonize and have a fair balance between tourism, which is our economic base and the protection of public health.”

The state official said that the state is “making all health, epidemiological and social efforts to not return to a red light. Our intention, together with those of the state government and Governor Carlos Joaquín, is to not return to the red light,” she said.

When initiating a series of actions against contagions, she stated that these have been carried out “for more than a year in order to prevent and contain the epidemic.” Among these actions, she highlighted that in Cancun “sanitary areas and filters have been strictly implemented in flea markets and supermarkets,” adding that the state government is doing an “excellent” job to stop the pandemic.

On Tuesday, governor Carlos Joaquin expressed his renewed concern over the rise in infections in residential areas of Chetumal. Of the top 10 noted regions with increases, Chetumal owned seven.