The US government has announced it extended the restrictions on non-essential travel across the borders with Canada and Mexico for another month in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.
The US Department of Homeland Security said the closure, first ordered on March 20 and due to expire Wednesday, will be extended until June 21 and reviewed every 30 days. In a statement, acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolfe said, "non-essential travel will not be permitted until this administration is convinced that doing so is safe and secure."
Wolf also mentioned that Canadian and Mexican authorities also agreed that "extending these restrictions was prudent at this time.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday the border is a source of vulnerability, so the agreement will be extended by another month. “This will keep people in both of our countries safe.” Trudeau said in his statement.
Some airlines that have announced earlier they’ll resume flights to the Cancun International Airport in early June are Southwest, Delta and Air Canada.
While there is no definite date when the borders will re-open to tourists, the hospitality industry prepares for tourism recovery.
In conjunction with the secretary of health, Mexico’s secretary of tourism released protocol for the hospitality industry to clean hotels and help visitors feel safe while COVID-19 remains a threat. Among those recommending enhanced practices:
Surfaces should be cleaned with a cloth or towel soaked with water with detergent, to avoid dispersing any dust.
Horizontal surfaces including tables, chairs, beds, shelves, or other installations attached to the wall should be cleaned with a cloth with detergent water, rinsed with clean water, and disinfected with chlorinated solution.
The walls, windows, and doors (including the handles) should be cleaned regularly, in addition to when they are visibly dirty.
As summer season approaches, many countries are trying to figure out how to revive the travel industry. Greece has recently announced it expects to open its borders by July, Iceland said it will start welcoming tourists on June 15, Aruba expects to open by July.
