As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads throughout Mexico,
the federal government is directing more states to ramp up efforts
to contain the virus, including directing Aguascalientes to allow only essential
activities-the first time since last September that any state has operated
under the country’s red traffic light pandemic control
measures, the most stringent according to the national four-tiered
COVID-19 monitoring system.
Nine states, including all of the northern border states and Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula,
are operating under orange traffic light status (high risk), one
step down from red status. The biweekly system was implemented in
June 2020, and it is used to alert residents
to the epidemiological risks of COVID-19 and provide guidance on
restrictions on certain activities in each of the country’s
states.
Below is a map for the period of January 24-February 6, 2022,
indicating the COVID-19 risk level in each of the states and the
capital.
This chart presents the traffic light status of
each state, and, as applicable, variations between federal and
local traffic light statuses based on publications of the federal
Ministry of Health and status reports provided by each state. Some
of the nation’s thirty-two states have implemented their own
monitoring systems, and therefore may impose restrictions that vary
from the federally designated status restrictions. For example, the
government of Tamaulipas has imposed red-status restrictions, even
though the federal government designated the state in yellow
status, meaning that all work activities are permitted, but with
measures taken to reduce the risk of infection among people at high
risk of developing severe COVID-19-related symptoms.
COVID-19 Sick-Leave Subsidy
The Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) recently relaunched
a program that provides individuals who have contracted COVID-19
with a “COVID-19 Permit,” which beneficiaries can
use to take leave from work and receive a sick-leave subsidy from
the IMSS. Individuals who have contracted the virus and who are
symptomatic are entitled to take seven days of subsidized leave.
Individuals who have received a positive test result but are not
displaying symptoms are entitled to five subsidized days of leave.
Individuals whose leave is approved by the IMSS must notify their
employers to justify their absences from work.
Pandemic Key Indicators and Vaccinations
Since the start of the pandemic, 308,141 people have been
confirmed to have died as a result of COVID-19, although the
estimated total could add more than 14,000 more deaths, according
to the government’s COVID-19 data, updated on February 2, 2022.
More than 5 million cases have been confirmed since the pandemic
hit Mexico, of which 199,413 are currently active.
The federal government is also reporting data showing increasing
vaccinations: of the nearly 83.4 million people over the age of
eighteen who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, 93 percent have
received the complete vaccination schedule, the Ministry of Health
stated in its Daily Technical Report, released January 25,
2022.
The Ministry of Health also stated on January 28, 2022, that its
vaccination strategy is being applied “based on the highest
priority,” with senior adults, health personnel, and people
with immunocompromised conditions in the first tier of individuals
to receive doses.
Mexico City Returns to Yellow Status
On January 21, 2022, the government of Mexico City announced its decision to change its traffic
light status to yellow, after operating in green status since early
November 2021. The government stated that
“in a responsible effort to continue with the economic
recovery of the city, economic activities will not be closed,”
but advised people to continue wearing masks and to wash hands
frequently, among other recommendations, in order to prevent the
spread of COVID-19.
Finally, the Administrative Verification Institute, along with
other Mexico City government authorities, will continue to visit
businesses to verify compliance with the general and specific
sanitary measures for workplace health protection. The authorities
may levy fines against employers found to be out of compliance with
the health and safety measures. Noncompliant employers may be
subject to the total or partial temporary suspension of work
centers for up to fifteen calendar days. Noncompliant employers may
also be subject to other applicable sanctions.
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