Mexican Communities Say 'No' to Outsiders Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

To mitigate the spread of the deadly COVID-19 in areas with high concentrations of vulnerable people and few medical resources, indigenous communities across Mexico have taken the initiative to close off access to their towns from outsiders.

In a recent article, these communities are blocking highways, closing tourist services, and publicly requesting that people not visit.

Residents in San Javier, municipality of Loreto, agreed to close off the town on Thursday because of the high percentage of older adults and a lack of medical supplies.

READ: 26 Health Workers in Mexico Infected, 1 Doctor Dead Due to COVID-19

According to local authorities, there were currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Loreto, and the citizens of San Javier hope their isolationist tactics will keep it that way.

Meanwhile, in San Juan Bautista Valle Nacional, northern Oaxaca, 80 percent of the residents voted not to accept anyone who does not live in the area to avoid contagion, according to Mayor Rey Magaña García.

Like the other towns, the mayor also cited the risk to the municipality's vulnerable population as a reason for taking action, mainly because Valle Nacional receives a lot of traffic moving between the state's Cuenca del Papaloapan and Valles Centrales regions.

Restaurants in the municipality remain open, but only for take-out orders while resorts and other public attractions like the Monte Flor and El Zuzul swimming holes are closed.

ALSO READ: Mexican President Ignores Coronavirus Warnings, Shakes Hands with El Chapo's Mother

Police are patrolling the river to ensure no one gathers to swim.

Several communities in Chiapas and Chihuahua took similar measures to avoid COVID-19. However, the state government told authorities in two Chihuahua municipalities that closing their towns were illegal.

Meanwhile, the municipal government of Urique, located in the famous Copper Canyon region, has prohibited outsiders from both entering and leaving the town.

According to local leaders, the restriction applies only on weekends and will remain for the duration of the month-long emergency period.

Alejandro Solís, a spokesperson for the state Ministry of the Interior, said that the Chihuahua municipalities were alerted that their restriction measures were illegal by state Interior Minister Luis Fernando Mesta Soulé on March 30.

"In the end, it's a crime to impede the transit of other people," said Solís.

"We understand perfectly that the authorities are worried about their citizens, but ... in this case they're violating a [constitutional] right," he said.

At present, there is no effort at the state level to open up the communities, he said, as they are hoping the communication will be enough for the municipalities to decide to do so themselves.

READ MORE: Sorry, Miss Chiquita Is at Home; Popular Brands Take On Social Distancing

As of Friday, Chihuahua had 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases, and the number of suspicious cases had dropped to 20. Oaxaca had 22 confirmed and 73 suspicious cases while Chiapas had 18 confirmed cases, and Baja California Sur had 21.

As of Sunday morning, there were 2,143 confirmed cases and 94 deaths from coronavirus infection in Mexico, while 5,209 suspicious cases were being investigated, according to a report by Latin Post.