Despite the fact that Mexico is currently facing the height and most critical moment of the Covid-19 pandemic, on May 14, 2020 it was published in the Federal Official Gazette the “Decree establishing the strategy for the reopening of the social, educational and economic activities, as well as a “stoplight” system by regions to weekly assess the epidemiological risk related to the reopening of activities in each federal entity”; which was modified by a subsequent publication on the following day.
The aforementioned strategy consists of the gradual, orderly and cautious reopening, considering the following stages:
a) Stage 1: It began on May 18, 2020 with the reopening of activities in the municipalities “of Hope” (i.e. Municipios “de la Esperanza”), meaning those in which no cases of Covid-19 have occurred and that are not in the proximity of municipalities with identified cases. These municipalities can be consulted here.
b) Stage 2: From May 18 to 31, 2020, the preparation stage for the reopening through the development of health protocols, training of personnel for safety in the work environment, readjustment of spaces and production processes; as well as the implementation of entrance screenings, sanitation and hygiene of the workplace.
Additional “essential activities” were designated, to restart at this stage: i.e. the construction, mining and the manufacturing of transportation equipment industries, which may resume activities as of June 1, 2020. The foregoing, provided that during this stage they conclude the process of establishing the health security protocols and mechanisms for companies, in accordance with the health security guidelines in the workplace, published by the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the Ministries of Economy and Labor and Social Welfare, as well as with the Mexican Institute of Social Security.
It is worth mentioning that, if the aforementioned is not complied with, companies or industries putting the health of their workers at risk, will be closed down.
c) Stage 3: Starts on June 1, 2020, according to the regional stoplight system for the reopening of social, educational and economic activities. The color of the stoplight in each activity indicates the manner in which it will be reactivated:
| ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION |
| Schools | Suspended |
| Public spaces | Suspended |
| ONLY ESSENTIAL Economic activities | Only labor activities considered essential. |
| Schools | Suspended |
| Public spaces | Reduced capacity in public space activities in open places. Suspended in closed places. |
| General economic activities | Labor activities considered as essential and non-essential activities with reduced operation. |
| Schools | Suspended |
| Public spaces | Capacity allowed in public space activities in open places and in closed places, with restrictions. |
| General economic activities | All labor activities |
| Schools | Without restrictions |
| Public space | Without restrictions |
| General economic activities | Without restrictions |
The governors of the States have made several critical remarks, anticipating that they will determine what is appropriate, according to local conditions and will ponder the resuming of activities. Each State has made their pronouncements in different respects, adopting fully or partially, the measures of the federal government, according to the health conditions of their population.
ECIJA México, S.C.
