Cozumel News June 19, 2020: Current Cozumel Phase Three Highlights, Next Week Orange Level, Cozumel Hotel and Flight Status, Cozumel Blue Crabs are here, Reopening of Houses of Worship, La Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II, and Confusion in Cozumel, and more….
Next Week: Orange Stage
The entire state of Quintana Roo will be in the Orange stage next week. Previously, the southern section of the state was in the red and the northern section of the state was in the orange stage.
This coming week, June 22nd through the 28th will be the second week in a row that Cozumel functions under the directives of the orange stage.
Current Cozumel
Phase Three
Phase Three in English
- Curfew Effective June 17, 2020 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. daily.
- Vehicle Capacity: 2 maximum per motorcycles other vehicles the maximum allowed per the vehicle´s circulation card. Under no circumstance may you drive a vehicle without license plates.
- The use of facemasks is mandatory inside establishments as well as out in public areas.
- We are in the Naranja (Orange) stage. This stage allows a gradual reopening of economic and social activities following COVID-19 safety protocols.
- All establishments must comply with health measures of healthy distance.
Cozumel Hotel and Flight Status
As of June 17, there where 20 hotels open in Cozumel. There are flights coming in. One based out of Dallas, the other based out of Charlotte.
Next week a flight will be starting based out of Mexico City.
Blue Crab Warning!
Cozumel News June 19, 2020
Please help us protect the Blue Crab species of Cozumel! It is that time of the season again when the blue crabs are migrating from land to the sea. PLEASE slow down your vehicle when driving along the seaside streets and give them the right of way. There are crab crossing signs on many of these roads.
Some of our family´s fondest memories are of assisting hundreds of crabs to cross the road by the air base behind the airport. The police would monitor traffic while entire families were out there with gloves, buckets, and brooms helping the blue crabs cross to the water.
The Cozumel Sun News promotes businesses for FREE in The Cozumel Sun Facebook Group !
Reopening of Houses of Worship
Under our current orange phase, the houses of worship can open at 30% capacity. The following is the protocol for Corpus Christi Catholic Church.
(The very top of page) For Seniors and vulnerable population there will be a live transmission of the Holy Mass at 12:00 p.m.
Parroquia Corpus Christi: Protect your Church
Protocol of preventive measures against the pandemic when attending Mass.
Pictured; Wear Face Mask, Wash Hands, do not wear Jewelry
Come Early (30% Capacity)
Listen to directives of volunteers, Use disinfectant gel upon entering, Limited Capacity
Inside of Church
Fill the benches towards the front of the church first. Be aware of Designated Seating. Keep Safe distancing of 1.5 meters
Face Masks must remain on.
When kneeling avoids touching the bench/seat or your face.
Do not leave your masks or gloves on the bench/seat.
Keep safe distancing when lining up for communion.
The host will be placed in your hand by the priest. Do not wear gloves, place one hand under the other respectfully. To take communion, lower your mask, do not remove it.
When Exiting the Church
Keep the safe distance when exiting the church. Allow people in the last benches to exit the church first. Do not congregate outside of church.
Thank you for taking care of your house!
La Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II
Cozumel June 16, 2020
La Casa Hogar Juan Pablo II is Cozumel´s one and only senior home. The residents have been in quarantine, for their safety since March. No one outside of their caregivers have been allowed to enter the residence.
Director Lourdes Teresita Pinto Ontiveras reported this day that everyone was happy and healthy. She thanked the community. Doña Teresita stated that whenever a need arose, help was provided immediately.
Juan Pablo II is dependent on your donations. The Donate or Volunteer section of The Cozumel Sun has a Juan Pablo II Senior Home page that will describes their needs and where you may donate.
Aurita´s Cozumel Corner
Confusion in Cozumel
An editorial by Aura Holguin-Resch
Reading the comments and questions asked by readers in the social media pages, it is noticeably clear that there is much confusion. There have been differences in the information distributed by local, state, and Federal government. Further confusion is caused by the fact that the Municipal President and the Governor can each have flexibility on some of the mandates.
To Eat or Not to Eat
The confusion is totally understandable! This pandemic is something we have never experienced. It seems to be trial and error decision making by those in charge. They are balancing, in our case, whether to have people stay at home go hungry and possibly be evicted or return to work and be exposed to COVID-19.
To paint a clear picture, most of the island population received only two food packages in the last three months. The size of those packages might last a family of four a week, maybe two if they really stretch it.
There is no unemployment insurance in Mexico. Very few businesses had the funding to pay their employees to stay home. Many locals are self-employed in small business that provide only day to day living expenses. Until now, no one has worked since mid-March.
Tourism
Quintana Roo´s main industry is tourism. Keeping that in mind, I believe tourism has been the reason for much of the conflicting decisions. Tourism was moved to an ¨Essential¨ activity because of the economic affect. It was initially not to open until we were in the clear. Once they realized COVID-19 was not going anywhere anytime soon, the reopening slowly plan came into effect.
Money Still Talks
There has been confusion because of double standards from the beginning. The only source of income on the island has been the residents such as us that have income coming from outside of Mexico. Most of us are helping the island every way possible.
The authorities know this and are not going to ruffle any feathers. The police have either ignored those breaking the rules or asked very nicely. The locals see this and a portion of them decide that if they can get away with it, so can we. Another segment of locals that have been stopped by authorities are asking, ¨why not stop them? ¨ I try to intervene and ask everyone to follow the local rules. I am told by some that why should they, follow the rules, the locals do not! It is a vicious circle.
Everyone Wants to Help
There is confusion caused by some people that have friends in high places. This information is by no means official. We are told repeatedly that it must come from the Municipal President, Governor’s, or other Official Media Page.
What the Director of this or that Department verbally confided in someone is not official. It might be the planned directive, but it is premature as everything is based on the ever-changing number of COVID-19 infections. Those of you that are sharing this information, while trying to be helpful are only adding to the problem.
Social Media Sharing
Did you know that experts say that 95% of the information that is floating around the social media is false? If you are sharing information that has not been fact checked, or is not an official government announcement, you are part of the problem.
Worldwide Problem
If you speak to the people back home, you will find that other countries are going through similar confusing directives, frustrations, and stress. This is a worldwide problem, not just Mexico is experiencing these issues of adjustments. So chill!
Emotions are High
If you are a fan of end of the world. movies, you can pick out all the different personalities as you stroll through the social media comments. There are those in denial, ¨This pandemic is just like the flu season, they are making big deal about nothing! ¨
Always present are the people that argue about the directives set forth by the authorities as if they are in a court of law and their opinion might change something.
You will find the people that are scared and those that like scaring people. There is always a privileged character that does not thinks rules apply to him or her.
There is the nice senior that is setting a good example and/or the cranky senior that will not cooperate with anyone.
Do not forget those that claim to know more than the entire medical and scientific community.
I personally fall into the conspiracy theory character. For the life of me I cannot figure out how the infection numbers go up and yet the stage to reopen gets more favorable each week. Who knows anymore! We should Just be grateful to be healthy and have an income coming in!
I leave you with this piece of advice. Be the person your grandchildren and great grandchildren will be proud of when they tell your descendants what you did in this pandemic. Let your experience be laced with patience, cooperation, and being kind to others.
Have a good and safe week!
Keep informed on the COVID-19 related news in Cozumel, Mexico by joining The Cozumel Sun Facebook Group! I will forward VERIFIED information as it is confirmed.
RFC: HORA500201TP1
987-118-4453 CELL 386-445-8702 USA
auraholguin@thecozumelsun.com
Thank you, Aura, for the good information and especially for the update on Juan Pablo II. They have been on my mind. I am thrilled to hear that they are doing well! As usual, you go above and beyond. Take care, amiga.
Aura! Thank you for keeping us informed even as you deal with your grief! So, so sorry for your loss. Many blessings to you.
Thank you Hannah. It takes alot of effort to do the simplest things now. I think I actually had some minutes of peace writing this.
Thank you Sallye. It actually gave me a few minutes of peace putting it together. Everything takes longer it seems. I have also been wondering about the senior home, our family makes an annual pilgramage to hang out with them over the holidays. It is specailly good to hear that they have been well cared for by the community.
Thank you Aura.
I loved loved your post. You “hit the nail” right on. You were so right about what you wrote on everything about the confusion here. I hope people take a moment to take serious stock of the situation and what they may be doing to either make things worse or make them better. We all need to try and set a good example for the islands people. The double standard must be so frustrating for the Cozumeleños
Thank You so much!!!