Message from the Governor of Quintana Roo Carlos Joaquín regarding enhancing measures to be implemented in response to the COVID-19 health emergency. April 13, 2020.
To my friends in Quintana Roo:
It is time to enhance measures to protect ourselves
We’re in the midst of the community spread scenario of the coronavirus. At this stage the contagion will be greater because there may be carriers of the virus without any symptoms who do not know that they have it and that can infect many more people, being the most vulnerable those who suffer from obesity, diabetes, hypertension and the elderly mainly.
My total gratitude to the thousands of people of Quintana Roo who have already stayed at home. Their collaboration continues to be a key factor.
However, there are still many who are not doing so and are putting their health and that of their families at risk.
I have close communication with experts on the subject and with all of you, because for me the most important thing is to make the right decisions.
With the massive spread of the epidemic approaching, more severe measures are needed to save lives.
We must guarantee the constitutional right to health of the people of Quintana Roo.
There can be no doubt or hesitation, and we will not allow anyone’s political haggling.
In order to save lives, the collaboration and absolute cooperation of everyone is required.
People of Quintana Roo, I now ask for your cooperation in implementing additional measures, so that in the coming weeks the speed of contagion decreases and fewer people get sick.
Particularly, we must take care of the most vulnerable, the most fragile.
The help of their families is vital here.
We must not let them leave the house and jeopardize their health.
The most vulnerable in the first place are our relatives who suffer from obesity or overweight, those who suffer from diabetes and hypertension.
If they get infected, their recovery will be complicated and their lives are at high risk.
There are also our family and friends with asthma, or with kidney and heart conditions.
We must protect them and isolate them so that they do not become infected and notify the health authorities so that they can be checked. If help is needed, we should call 911.
By doing so, we’ll all be saving lives.
Therefore, I have taken the firm decision to enhance social distancing, increase hygiene measures, the reduction of vehicle traffic and limiting the mobility of people in our cities.
Some of the measures that we will apply to protect people are the following:
In terms of limiting personal mobility and staying at home, only those people who carry out essential activities, need to see a doctor, go to the hospital or go stock up on groceries for their family will be allowed to leave their homes.
Vehicle and pedestrian closures will be implemented on main avenues and streets by installing filters to limit internal and inter-municipal mobility.
Patrols and official vehicles will be urging people to return to their homes, and to stay at home.
No gatherings or congregations will be allowed.
The use of masks will be mandatory when on out in public. The Quintana Roo Police will be handing out masks to help the population.
At public places where several people require to mobilize for essential activities, such as bus stops or gas stations, they should follow the social distancing measures of “safe distance”, maintaining at least a meter and a half distance between them.
Regarding food supply, people should move individually and go out only to buy food and supplies preferably in the closest store to their home.
It is very important that the public answer the digital questionnaire checking for signs and symptoms of the illness at least once a week, the link for this questionnaire will be available on the Ministry of Health and on the State Government’s webpages.
Supply centers must take extreme sanitary and healthy distancing measures such as: continuous cleaning of the products on display, posting the necessary signage urging the keeping of social distance of one and a half meters between shoppers.
With regard to commercial establishments, only those considered essential will remain in operation, where the use of face masks will be mandatory for all personnel. All other commercial establishments must be closed. Failure to comply will result in the closing of an establishment and a fine.
Alcohol sales will be now limited to certain hour; failure to comply with these regulations will result in the cancellation of a store´s license to sell alcohol.
Let’s understand that collaboration is essential at this time. Let’s avoid fines and closings.
We will continue supporting your family´s financial well-being, house to house in a permanent way.
Further enhanced measures will be informed according to the progress being made.
Please keep an eye on the information we’ll be providing through our official sources.
I will keep in touch with you constantly.
Let’s understand that we all need each other right now.
These are moments of solidarity to save lives.
We must make sacrifices that we never imagined, but we need to decisively face an inclement pandemic, that has taken humanity by surprise.
Only unity, solidarity and personal and collective discipline will allow us to save lives, protect our families and, in time, recover our economic growth.
We need to innovate, to act decisively, as a team, because only together we will succeed.