Photo: U.S. State Department

By THE PULSE NEWS MEXICO STAFF

The U.S. State Department lowered its travel advisory for Mexico from a Level 4 (red, do not travel) to a Level 3 (orange, reconsider travel) on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The new, downgraded advisory specifically warns U.S. citizens to “reconsider travel to Mexico due to covid-19,” and to “exercise increased caution in Mexico due to crime and kidnapping.”

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Mexico due to covid-19,” the State Department advisory said, noting that Mexico has lifted stay-at-home orders in some areas and resumed some transportation and business operations.

It went on to say not to travel to the states of Colima due to crime, Guerrero due to crime, Michoacán due to crime, Sinaloa due to crime and Tamaulipas due to crime and kidnapping.

It likewise warned to “reconsider travel” travel to the states of Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Jalisco, the State of Mexico (Edomex), Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora and Zacatecas, all due to high crime levels.

“Violent crime – such as homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery – is widespread. Armed criminal groups have been known to target and rob commercial vessels, oil platforms and offshore supply vessels in the Bay of Campeche,” the advisory said.

“The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in many areas of Mexico, as travel by U.S. government employees to certain areas is prohibited or significantly restricted.”

In August, the State Department raised its travel advisory for Mexico to its highest warning, Level 4 (do not travel), due to crime and the covid-19 pandemic.

…Sept. 9, 2020