[D66] Mexico City to remain at coronavirus orange alert level for another week

[R.O.]

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/mexico-city-to-remain-at-coronavirus-orange-alert-for-another-week/

Mexico City to remain at coronavirus orange alert level for another week
But some more restrictions will be eased, such as allowing bars to reopen
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Published on Friday, August 7, 2020


The coronavirus risk level in Mexico City will remain at “orange light” 
high for a seventh consecutive week between August 10 and 16 but some 
further nonessential businesses will be permitted to reopen.

Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum told a virtual press conference that coronavirus 
cases and deaths in the capital are trending downwards albeit slowly and 
that hospital occupancy has declined slightly.

She also said that Mexico City’s Covid-19 positivity rate – the 
percentage of tests that come back positive – is currently at 27% 
whereas earlier in the year it was above 50%. However, ramped-up testing 
could have had an influence on that improvement.

Although the situation has improved, Sheinbaum said it was difficult to 
be optimistic while the pandemic continues and people are still dying of 
Covid-19.

Mexico City, the country’s coronavirus epicenter, has recorded 77,790 
confirmed cases and 9,246 deaths.

It has the largest current outbreak among the country’s 32 states with 
almost 6,000 active cases, according to federal Health Ministry estimates.

After announcing last Friday that restaurants could extend their 
operating hours while maintaining a maximum of 30% capacity, Sheinbaum 
said today that bars, cantinas and other entertainment venues will be 
permitted to reopen next week.

However, the mayor said they will be required to tweak their business 
model and operate as if they are restaurants, meaning that they must 
offer food and table service to patrons.

“What we’re saying is that these businesses can change … to [become] 
restaurants, fondas [cheap diners]. To do that they have to register 
with the city government, permits will be given to them immediately but 
they have to comply with the same [safety] measures as restaurants,” 
Sheinbaum said.

The mayor also announced that enclosed and open-air swimming pools will 
be allowed to reopen starting Monday and that museums will be permitted 
to welcome back visitors as of Tuesday. Like restaurants, museums must 
limit entry to 30% of their normal capacity, Sheinbaum said.

She also said that cinemas can reopen at 30% capacity starting next 
Wednesday but theaters must remain closed.

Source: Milenio (sp), Infobae (sp)