The Board of Health unanimously approved adjustments and modifications to the sanitary protocols allowing an increase in the capacity and flow of people in shops, cultural spaces, sports, places of worship, places of recreation, and places of social celebrations.
Preventive measures will be kept in force such as: mandatory use of face masks, keeping a healthy distance, frequent hand washing, application of antibacterial gel, and continuing vaccinations.
These changes, said Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez, are feasible due to the low rates of coronavirus infections, currently registering only 83 confirmed cases on average per day compared to more than 800 that were registered in June 2020. Hospitalizations have also greatly decreased, down to 8.3% bed occupancy, and positivity with only 2.9%. These numbers have kept Jalisco on a green light in recent weeks, reducing the spread of the pandemic in the state.
"By virtue of what was approved by all of you this morning, the decree will be published this day in the Official State Newspaper by the General Secretariat, so that it takes legal effect and communication can be established with municipal authorities, with the Power Judicial, the Legislative Power, churches, business chambers, and universities to report on the agreements that have been taken today and so that these measures are established,” the president explained.
Alfaro Ramírez added that the pandemic has not ended, and that anyone or business who does not comply with the measures as established in the new decree will be subject to legal sanctions and state and municipal penalties.
“The evaluation of the Jalisco 2021 strategy remains. We have not finished, we continue working. The message to the people of Jalisco is very important to make it clear that although we have advanced in a very important way, we must recognize that the people of Jalisco have done things well, that society has assumed its responsibility, and that this allows us to give a step today in the economic reactivation; but the risk is latent and we have to continue taking care of each other," said the president. He went on to ask the people of Jalisco not to lower their guard against the coronavirus.
The adjustments in the state strategy against COVID-19 establish that:
CULTURAL SPACES: Cinemas, theaters, forums, museums, galleries, cultural centers, recreational and cultural activities, workshops and academies may increase their operating capacity from 50% to 75%.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES: Religious centers may increase their operating capacity from 50% to 75% of their capacity, except for massive religious celebrations that will be subject to approval by the Board of Health.
SPORTS SPACES: Soccer fields, water parks, gyms, sports clubs, physical activity academies and sports facilities will be able to increase their operating capacity from 50% to 75%.
EDUCATIONAL SPACES: Educational activities go from a period of suspension of face-to-face classes to a stage of academic accompaniment and face-to-face counseling in school campuses for the current school year 2020-2021. Progress will continue to be made in the process of preparing face-to-face classes for the next school year, including enacting rigorous sanitary protocols, and monitoring of the health status of students. Nurseries may now operate without age restriction.
SPACE OF COEXISTENCE: Urban forests, parks and public spaces will be able to increase their operating capacity from 50% to 75%. The holding of events in general may go from a capacity of 300 to 600 people, while the tourist or passenger train or bus may operate at 65% of its capacity.
EVENTS AND EXHIBITIONS: Social events in closed spaces go from a flow of 200 to 300 people. Social events in open spaces go from 300 people (in density of 1 person for every 7m2) to 600 people.
Exhibition and convention centers should not have a capacity greater than 500 people every three hours, and a maximum of 2,000 visitors per day will be allowed in an area of no less than 4,000 square meters. In spaces greater than 10,000 square meters, the capacity of up to 3000 people simultaneously may occur, and up to 6,000 visitors per day.
Commercial and service establishments may go from 50% to 75% capacity.
Self-service, department, and retail stores go from 50% to 75% capacity.
Restaurants, cafes and food stalls go from 50% to 75% capacity.
Hotels and motels go from 66% to 80% of their operating capacity.
Bars and clubs go from 33% to 40% of their operating capacity.
Casinos go from 40% to 60% of their operating capacity.
The General Strategic Coordinator of Economic Growth and Development, Ajandro Guzmán Larralde, announced that in the decree it was also approved to extend the service in bars, restaurants, and meeting rooms for one hour.
The General Strategic Social Development Coordinator, Anna Bárbara Casillas, said that as part of the adjustments to the state strategy against COVID, there is also the deconversion of hospitals, in order to allow the daily care of patients but continue with the existence of areas reserved for the care of people with coronavirus.
"We have to have resilience for education and health. Today we all know how the virus is spread and we can all take action to prevent. Another important factor is that all treatment and medical care continue to advance, and we must continue with (both) the economy and social responsibility.”