Covid 19 situation now?

[wmeleney]

I have been stuck in USA and have not been on the forum since last November. Now, I am thinking of coming back to GTO in order to avoid the insanity of the US elections. I will appreciate any info about how GTO city is managing, what are infection numbers, what are the rules and expectations. I can fly into BJX without restrictions, I think. I have an offer of accommodations (thanks to James D), so I can quarantine if required, and I have friends and acquaintances in GTO. I’m feeling very positive about return for a couple of months as the info I have from people I know in GTO is upbeat. Now, is there any “alternative” voice? Thanks, Bill

[DonJuane]

As an A.H. we all are familiar with is known to say, "it is what it is". I can't give a blow by blow report as I've only driven for short trips to relieve potential insanity and I haven't been downtown in a year but mask wearing in the suburbs seems to have fallen out of fashion. You see some wearing on the bus but it's now a roll of the dice like I would imagine most of the US is, if not a little worse at least in an environment of this city's architecture. The narrow callejones I suspect are as always the largest area of exposure because as you know there is not always 6' of room and people here seem oblivious and few on last observation bothered with masks. And if you think people will lean out and hug the wall on the opposite side of the callejone, not so lucky there. The biggest hit in this city is that it is a pedestrian and public transport city if you are talking about centro, so from that aspect it could be considered more prone to transfer the virus than the US car-culture cities. NYC would contrast that from the US perspective but while NYC seems to be getting a grasp on the pandemic I would imagine there would be many similarities between there and here relating to contagion with public transport the same requirement in both cities.

The issue of course in GTO is the fact that one can't normally just step outside and get into their own car. Public transportation is normally a must unless you are lucky to be a short walk to a vegetable or butcher shop. Still the callejones put you face to face, like it or not. Even with a car you are left with mainly driving to Comer and that place gets seriously intense during interludes of my seeming to always ending up there at the wrong time. The vegetable area seems to be on some sort of supernatural time table to where everyone in the market always flocks to all diverge upon the vegetable area the moment I set foot there. It can become quite intense. For this reason I recommend at least in the vegetable markets to do the local vendors. Still there and with no parking in the city even if you have an auto you cannot typically park in front, shop and be gone. So this city from a public transportation always being required perspective is not the best choice. Still Mexico in general, if you don't get stopped somewhere for doing what would have to be defined as non-essential travel which is now supposedly prohibited at least via land entry, would be a likely good place to hang out.

I do agree that the US seems steeped on if not civil war, extreme civil unrest coming up with the election. So I don't blame you for seeking refuge here. Who would have thought that an Australian could have conquered the USA? Good old Rupert Murdoch, don't you love him. Still all propagandists need a willing audience so from that perspective, perhaps they deserve exactly what they get.

[DonJuane]

Still don't discount the exposure potential of travel. As to the probability of how the outbreak of riots, gunfire, civil unrest is going to affect anyone in the US during any election vs. the probability of contacting the virus through the great exposure of travel, one would just need to work that out in their head before making such a big decision to travel such a considerable distance. Right now I would not take a chance other than driving and it's a long way here, starting at about 16 hours from the border south and then there's all the interaction of hotels, gas station attendants, stopping for food and necessities, etc Additionally the roads of Mexico are not as safe as they were prior to covid-19. Of course that could change and does almost on a weekly basis. Mexico News Daily reports various ambush points and the constant turmoil of the pipeline cartels getting into altercations as their taps are coming under more policing. It's not as much of a carefree place as it once was and that's due to both the hard times brought on by the virus as well as the ever changing syndicate.

In contrast, flying to BJX almost always requires a transfer at Mexico City and that walk from International to Domestic gates will typically require a very long walk in front of thousands of people. I suppose one might be able to walk outside from gate to gate but during a stop over, that can complicate things to the level that minimally a tight-proximity pass through security will again be required and who knows if transfer passes will work coming back in and what will be required if there's an issue. Stepping outside to walk the long distance would make it easy to miss a connection. And it's not just flying and transfers that cause exposure considerations but the cabs to get to and from the airport or shuttle buses, etc.

Then there's medical exposure. What if one catches the bug while in Mexico? It's reported that the total treatment here can run $10-$13K and that's if a private hospital bed is available. Not sure if they have ventilators. In the US the exposure is if one doesn't have medicare, then does their insurance properly cover it , do they have a covid-19 bed available and how is the quality of care there. I do have Medicare and a reasonable supplemental coverage and I've recently been to two specialists here for non-covid related issues and paid less than my Medicare co-pay for 1 hr stay in the emergency room. So medical options and potential costs should be a consideration as well.

Otherwise I believe that pretty much everywhere except for a few countries will be requiring this lock-down style mentality. All I can suggest for survival is where ever you live or end up traveling to, to keep away from the news media as a constant source of entertainment (agony?) and try to continue to enrich yourself in every imaginable fashion through all this. I have been failing to do so and now suffering the repercussions. I am going to try to implement more exercise and diversity and to escape this trap while still remaining as safe as possible. Wish me luck.

[wmeleney]

Thanks DonJuane for your perspective. It is sobering. I get from it, that your view of Centro and the old city is not as friendly and engaging as it was and that the architecture of the city is not conducive to safe distancing while also being engaged with the citizenry daily and socially in small groups. I think I understand that the government, while not prohibiting me from flying in, would discourage me as “non-essential” traveler. I hope to read other posts on the subject before I make a decision, which I have to do soon. Anyone else? Thanks again

[jesm]

So, during March thru May we were very, very proud of the overall response, masks, fines, closures, the full regimen of wise actions.
Then, human nature seemed to regain control and the prevention faded so the cases and deaths began their climb.
Presently I would offer that your visit can definitely be handled in a safe manner, but the visit will be constrained in terms of social interaction and enjoyment. We are 9 year residents and have adapted well to this new normal, but sure miss the care free days pre-Covid. I estimate about 2/3/ of citizens wear masks in public. Our time spent in Centro with its expected congestion and high numbers of youths while not avoided is limited. Our colonia La Presa seems far safer.
Most all restaurants and commercial establishments have reopened, many with reduced capacities and some with reduced hours. Everything you, and we, love about this place is still here and available just with the addition of a large dose of prevention.
Our hospitals have not been overrun but full. Our private physician is more optimistic now about the capacities and staff availabilities. In March, he was fully pessimistic.
As I think about doing what you hope my greatest concern would actually be the risk involved in getting here. Airports, customs and immigration lines, etc. to me would be much more troublesome than our daily living here, ever though somewhat restricted.

[roberb7]

Two comments:
1. I've checked the numbers for COVID-19 deaths the past couple of days. 40 yesterday, 44 today. So, not good.
2. About flying to BJX; if you're not flying directly from Tijuana or elsewhere, fly to Guadalajara instead. The GDL airport is a three-hour bus ride from here, and it's pretty easy to get through the airport, into a taxi, and to the Nueva Central Camionera.

[jesm]

One other suggestion. If flying, do not come thru IACM, Mex City airport. In normal times it can be threatening and massive. Better to change in USA if direct is not an option for you. BJX is unusually quiet.
Longer distance travel by bus for us is a no-no and we hate that!

[jesm]

Robert, for clarity those death figures, 44 etc., are those for the full state of Guanajuato? If so could you offer recent death numbers for GTO Capital? Thanks mucho.
Leon, Irapuato and Celaya have all been hit very hard. I read last week reports that Leon had all ICU beds full and were looking at additional means to support Covid cases.
Our Doc advised our IMSS hospital here hit full capacity, while Hospital General did not, so far.

[jesm]

Local news site, does a decent job of informing on Covid.
Mexico adopted a four tier level to monitor reopening. Green, yellow, orange and red in ascending threat level.
GTO Capital was red thru the end of July but improved to orange where we now sit.

https://periodicocorreo.com.mx/

[doncoulter]

@jesm: The death figures cited by roberb7 are for the city of Guanajuato. The current state figures are 30,372 confirmed cases and 1,875 deaths. The seven-day state average for new confirmed cases per day is 318.

@wmeleney: To those figures I would add the caveat that basically nobody here -- at least nobody I know -- trusts the official government figures. Nor does the World Health Organization; see this article from yesterday.

Frankly, I'm kind of shocked that anyone would consider traveling here at this time unless absolutely necessary. This isn't a good time for leisure travel. The situation here in my view is bad and getting worse. In addition to the article mentioned above, plenty of information about Covid in Mexico is available with a simple Google search.

My concern is not only for you but also for the residents of Guanajuato, where I've lived for 20 years -- and hope to continue living. You don't say where you'd be coming from, but I'm concerned that a likely increase in casual tourism here over the next weeks and months will bring a corresponding increase in disease and death.