Mexico generally - YIKES!

[HarborsideHappyGirl]

New CDC & US State Dept. warning:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has one system of rating the risks by country, the U.S. State Department another, producing different travel alert levels for the same country in many cases. Mexico, a popular vacation spot with American vacationers this year, is considered a Level 4 by the CDC – meaning avoid all travel – but a Level 3 by the State Department – meaning "reconsider travel.''

 

[byeloe]

there are plenty of other countries at level 3 or 4, so it's not just Mexico. We felt safer in Mexico than at home

 

[HarborsideHappyGirl]

there are plenty of other countries at level 3 or 4, so it's not just Mexico. We felt safer in Mexico than at home

OK, that's good to know! I was looking forward to it. How recently have you been there and what are the protocols and requirements?

 

[easyrider]

There is much to consider when you go to Mexico resort towns. The resort towns have taken covid pretty seriously, imo. The resorts have made great efforts to help tourist regarding their testing and covid safety at the resorts. The businesses in resort areas have taken harsher steps than seen in my home town to fight covid.

Mexico's President has been all over the place regarding covid vaccinations. I think he finally gave in and took the vaccine. About 4% of Mexico's population is now covid vaccinated. I think they are on their way to a population of vaccinated people.

Last February in Cabo I felt very safe from covid problems. This was a month before we were vaccinated. My friends who spent a month in Puerto Vallarta felt safe last winter and they hadn't been vaccinated yet either. Our relatives that live in Ajijjic aren't concerned about covid. They have been in Ajijjic since the covid thing started.

The thing I didn't like was the antigen test to fly home. They stick a giant q-tip thing up your nose and it kind of hurts, imo. Masks and sanitizers don't bother me.

Bill

 

[HarborsideHappyGirl]

The thing I didn't like was the antigen test to fly home. They stick a giant q-tip thing up your nose and it kind of hurts, imo. Masks and sanitizers don't bother me.

Thanks for the info, Bill. The q-tip thing is pretty standard, unless you get the gargle test (mostly reserved to young children). I describe it like a "tickle that you want to end immediately."

 

[TravelTime]

We were in Puerto Vallarta last February 2020. My husband got very sick with an upper respiratory infection. We were staying at Garza Blanca. We went to see the doctor and I asked “could it be Covid?” He said not unless you’ve been to China. Looking back all I can say is LOL.

 

[zentraveler]

There is much to consider when you go to Mexico resort towns. The resort towns have taken covid pretty seriously, imo. The resorts have made great efforts to help tourist regarding their testing and covid safety at the resorts. The businesses in resort areas have taken harsher steps than seen in my home town to fight covid.

Mexico's President has been all over the place regarding covid vaccinations. I think he finally gave in and took the vaccine. About 4% of Mexico's population is now covid vaccinated. I think they are on their way to a population of vaccinated people.

Last February in Cabo I felt very safe from covid problems. This was a month before we were vaccinated. My friends who spent a month in Puerto Vallarta felt safe last winter and they hadn't been vaccinated yet either. Our relatives that live in Ajijjic aren't concerned about covid. They have been in Ajijjic since the covid thing started.

The thing I didn't like was the antigen test to fly home. They stick a giant q-tip thing up your nose and it kind of hurts, imo. Masks and sanitizers don't bother me.

Bill

Mexico's President has been all over the place regarding covid vaccinations. I think he finally gave in and took the vaccine. About 4% of Mexico's population is now covid vaccinated. I think they are on their way to a population of vaccinated people.

Good lord; he "finally gave in" and "took the vaccine" and only 4% vaccinated??

I have a lovely BD trip planned soon, but think I gave Mexico too much credit. *sigh* The science has been out there for a while now. I am not so up to date on Mexico but thought they were more advanced than this.

 

[geist1223]

We were in San Jose del Cabo for 3 weeks in February/March. We had our First Moderna Jab just before we left. Got our 2nd the day after we got back. All the Resorts were at no more than 50%. The BCS Government was very up front with the citizens - at least 90% of our income is tourist related if you do not follow the Protocols the Tourists will not come. All the Residents were wearing Masks. Almost every store/shop checked your temperature and squirted hand sanitizer on your Hands. Some stores limited access. We felt very comfortable. The only people we saw (and this was very few) not wearing Masks were tourists.

 

[Passepartout]

Thanks for the info, Bill. The q-tip thing is pretty standard, unless you get the gargle test (mostly reserved to young children). I describe it like a "tickle that you want to end immediately."

I think that if you are fully vaxx'ed and use common sense, you can have a great Mexican vacation in a tourist area. That said, indoor dining and enjoying festivals and close contacts with Mexicans or other tourists should be avoided until they get more residents vaxx'ed and their hospitals are not overrun with ICU cases. Remember, if you test positive on the mandatory pre-departure test, you're NOT flying home.

JIm

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I believe this comes from the same health officials who would say to not eat a steak that has any pink in the middle.

 

[iowaguy09]

We were at WLCRV-BP last October for a week. It was amazing even with the very limited services onsite. Highly recommend at least one visit for everyone sometime. This was before Covid testing was required; just masks, temperature taking, hand sanitizer, and trays of sanitizer you had to walk through at some locations. Anyway, we felt safer there than some places in the US at that time. We did a couple of excursions and restaurants out; no issues. Everyone was very diligent to be safe and distanced. The staff and locals were all great and friendly. We did have a couple days of “Montezuma’s revenge” but no COVID at all (we just stayed on our balcony with built-in hot tub gazing out over the Pacific Ocean munching on Margherita Pizza from room service and sipping ginger ale - very rough haha). The main precaution was an emergency medical insurance plan just in case we did get really sick. Also packed Ivermectin, Zinc, and Tylenol as a COVID home cure just in case. We would not hesitate to go to a Mexico tourist area right now. WLOR sometime in the future for sure.

 

[easyrider]

Good lord; he "finally gave in" and "took the vaccine" and only 4% vaccinated??

I have a lovely BD trip planned soon, but think I gave Mexico too much credit. *sigh* The science has been out there for a while now. I am not so up to date on Mexico but thought they were more advanced than this.

Mexico is doing pretty good regarding vaccination rates. I just looked at a chart that shows Mexico at over 11% vaccination rate. Reading different articles seem to give different vaccination rates and the 4% rate was an article that had bias to Mexico's president. The 11% comes from stasita so I believe it is a truer measure.

Bill

Countries with highest COVID vaccination dose rates 2023 | Statista

As of March 2023, the countries with the highest COVID vaccination dose rates worldwide included Cuba and Japan.

www.statista.com

 

[easyrider]

We were at WLCRV-BP last October for a week. It was amazing even with the very limited services onsite. Highly recommend at least one visit for everyone sometime. This was before Covid testing was required; just masks, temperature taking, hand sanitizer, and trays of sanitizer you had to walk through at some locations. Anyway, we felt safer there than some places in the US at that time. We did a couple of excursions and restaurants out; no issues. Everyone was very diligent to be safe and distanced. The staff and locals were all great and friendly. We did have a couple days of “Montezuma’s revenge” but no COVID at all (we just stayed on our balcony with built-in hot tub gazing out over the Pacific Ocean munching on Margherita Pizza from room service and sipping ginger ale - very rough haha). The main precaution was an emergency medical insurance plan just in case we did get really sick. Also packed Ivermectin, Zinc, and Tylenol as a COVID home cure just in case. We would not hesitate to go to a Mexico tourist area right now. WLOR sometime in the future for sure.

I went to a few pharmacies in the Cabo area and found that they sold Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine. They were out of Ivermectin so I asked why. I was told that many of the locals that caught covid were using it.

Bill

 

[zentraveler]

I went to a few pharmacies in the Cabo area and found that they sold Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine. They were out of Ivermectin so I asked why. I was told that many of the locals that caught covid were using it.

Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19 | FDA

 

[dundey]

We were in Riviera Maya recently and felt extremely safe. The resort took more precautions than anywhere we've been in the states.

 

[Negma]

Hydroxychloroquine should also not be used

 

[HarborsideHappyGirl]

I appreciate these reassuring comments. Thanks!

 

[HarborsideHappyGirl]

WLCRV-BP
WLOR

Sorry, I don't know all the lingo. Can someone please tell me which resorts these are?

Thanks!

 

[Eric B]

Sorry, I don't know all the lingo. Can someone please tell me which resorts these are?

Thanks!

Took me a bit to figure out, too. WLCRV-BP is Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas - Baja Point and WLOR is Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort.

 

[easyrider]

Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19 | FDA

Ivermectin is approved for use in Mexico for covid 19. Mexican hospitals began trials using this to fight sars in May 2020. I read that this treatment is used in many countries. Regardless of what the FDA says, Ivermectin is sold over the counter at Mexican pharmacies when it is available. So are z-pacs.

My guess is Mexico doesn't follow FDA guidelines because those guidelines are set up to protect Americans and the Pharmaceutical industry.

 

[easyrider]

Remember, if you test positive on the mandatory pre-departure test, you're NOT flying home.

So the nasal swab testing hack is to use an anti-viral sinus spray like the Manuka Honey nasal spray a few hours before getting swabbed. It supposedly kills virus in the sinus. Our large group used this before the nasal test and we all tested negative but so did just about every one else.

I know of only one family that had to quarantine in Mexico. They chose a resort penthouse and had daily room service with a fantastic view.

Bill

 

[EnglishmanAbroad]

So the nasal swab testing hack is to use an anti-viral sinus spray like the Manuka Honey nasal spray a few hours before getting swabbed. It supposedly kills virus in the sinus. Our large group used this before the nasal test and we all tested negative but so did just about every one else.

I know of only one family that had to quarantine in Mexico. They chose a resort penthouse and had daily room service with a fantastic view.

Bill

Hack? It's comforting to know that people are trying to circumvent measures put in place to prevent the spread of a deadly global virus with the same gravity as e.g. how to get chewing gum out of a carpet

 

[Passepartout]

So the nasal swab testing hack is to use an anti-viral sinus spray like the Manuka Honey nasal spray a few hours before getting swabbed. It supposedly kills virus in the sinus. Our large group used this before the nasal test and we all tested negative but so did just about every one else.

If positive, I have been told one can fly to Tijuana, walk across the pedestrian bridge into the US, and take a $7 bus to the San Diego airport and fly home without ever taking a Covid test.

Note: I haven't tried this, so as far as I know, it's just hearsay.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

If positive, I have been told one can fly to Tijuana, walk across the pedestrian bridge into the US, and take a $7 bus to the San Diego airport and fly home without ever taking a Covid test.

Note: I haven't tried this, so as far as I know, it's just hearsay.

The Swiss Cheese Maginot Line / We have those in Canada too.

 

[easyrider]

It's comforting to know that people are trying to circumvent measures put in place

I found it comforting to know. There is no way I wanted any of our group to be stuck in Mexico on a false positive test while not sick. If anyone had been sick it would have been a concern and definitely quarantine. The product we used is called ManakuGaurd Nasal Spray. We bought it at Rite Aid. I'm told that it is hard to find these days. Another hack is to use 1/4 teaspoon baby shampoo and saline solution in a sinus wash. You can google the exact directions.

If positive, I have been told one can fly to Tijuana, walk across the pedestrian bridge into the US, and take a $7 bus to the San Diego airport and fly home without ever taking a Covid test

It would depend on where you were staying. The people that we know that tested positive actually were forced to quarantine with a resort employee monitoring the quarantined.

What many travelers do is cross the border at the CBX which is the TJ border crossing bridge. The reason many people do this is for cheap flights out of TJ to Mexican resort destinations. Recently though it is being used as a way to not have to take the antigen test to return to the USA. Tourists of any country traveling across the bridge are not required to take the antigen test to enter the USA. Not taking the test is different than testing positive then making a run for TJ but I bet a person could very easily do so if they were not showing symptoms.

Bill