Residents Of Mexico Border Town Block Americans From Entering Over COVID-19 Fears

Residents of a Mexico border town blocked Americans from crossing the border over the July 4 weekend to prevents Americans from entering due to coronavirus fears.

Sonoyta Mayor José Ramos Arzate issued a statement Saturday “inviting U.S. tourists not to visit Mexico,” but added that Americans would be allowed in “for essential activities, and for that reason, the checkpoint and inspection point a few meters from the Sonoyta-Lukeville AZ crossing will continue operating.”

But residents near the checkpoint organized a demonstration, preventing drivers from crossing into Mexico using a blockade made of cars.

Carlos Eduardo Chávez Jacquez, who helped organize the protest told Newsweek that they planned on blocking the crossing again Monday.

“Everywhere people are dying from COVID-19 because we weren’t ready for this,” he said. “Yes, I support tourism, I want people from all over the world to come to Mexico and see how pretty we are and enjoy the culture, but why during COVID-19 times?”

He added that Sonoyta does not have the local health infrastructure needed to combat a coronavirus outbreak.

“And if the U.S. isn’t ready, why would Mexico be ready?” he told said. “We are not ready for COVID-19 tourism right now. I support tourism, it’s important for the economy, but why now?”

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