By That Baja Guy-Gary Graham
Apr 8, 2020 at 6:48 AM
April 7, 2020
Baja California Sur
Message from Governor Carlos Mendoza Davis: Today in the session of the Health Safety Committee, I summoned all the institutions of the health sector so that, to the extent of their possibilities, they strengthen the hospital infrastructure and protect the human resource, to face the pandemic due to #Covid19.
I ask the citizens not to let their guards down and to continue implementing the #SanaDistancia #SafeDistance and hygiene, since being in the local contagion phase, it is expected that the number of positive cases will increase considerably. #QuédateEnCasa #StayHome
Remember that in the case of presenting symptoms of #Covid19, they must call 800 BCS COVID (800-227-26843), or enter the self-diagnosis application available at coronavirus.bcs.gob.mx
Governor Carlos Mendoza Davis
#BCSCuentaConNosotros
#BCSCountOnUs
Que Pasa
April 5: Mexico confirmed 2,143 positive cases of COVID-19 and their distribution by state.
The Secretary of Health reported that 58% percent of the positive cases by COVID-19 belong to the Male gender and 42% Female.
The Secretary of Health reported that the entities with the highest number of positive cases by COVID-19 are Mexico City with 560 cases, the State of Mexico with 180, Puebla, with 147 and Jalisco with 123.
Baja California: 69 positive cases and six deaths.
Baja California Sur: 28 positive cases and two deaths.
Coronavirus has closed more than 1,000 hotels, with more to follow.
The hotel association says thousands of small hotels and guest houses could go bankrupt.
This was published on Thursday, April 2, 2020.
• Full coronavirus coverage here.
More than 1,100 hotels across Mexico have temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the number will swell in the coming days as orders that they shut down take effect in Sinaloa and Baja California Sur.
The Mexican Hotel and Motel Association (AMHM) said that among the hotels that have closed, 645 are run by small and medium-sized businesses rather than large chains. Cancún and Mexico City, where authorities ordered all hotels to shut as of Wednesday, have seen the highest number of closures.
More than 500 hotels in Sinaloa, will be forced to close while around 460 in Baja California Sur have been told that they can’t remain open after April 5.
The AMHM said that occupancy levels have dropped drastically at hotels that remain open and warned that thousands of small hotels and guesthouses could go bankrupt. Without guests, they will have no income to meet their tax obligations or to pay for services such as electricity, the association said.
However, a new source of revenue for some could come from providing beds for COVID-19 patients, should Mexico’s health system become overwhelmed.
The president of the National Tourism Business Council said in a radio interview that authorities had asked hotel owners and CEOs whether they were prepared to accommodate patients should the need arise.
“We told them yes, of course,” said Braulio Arsuaga, director-general of the Presidente hotel group.
The tourism industry, and many other sectors, is set to lose massive amounts of revenue over the coming months as Mexico and countries around the world seek to limit the spread of COVID-19 by implementing strict social distancing measures and ordering non-essential businesses to close.
All of Mexico’s airlines have cut the number of flights they are offering except Aeromar as the demand for both domestic and international services has largely collapsed.
The federal government has declared a month-long health emergency scheduled to run through April 30, but if social distancing measures fail to contain the spread of COVID -19 substantially, there is a possibility that even stricter restrictions, such as an obligatory home quarantine, will be enforced, exacerbating the impact on the economy.
If Mexico succeeds in getting the coronavirus outbreak under control, the president of the Hotel Association of Cancún and Puerto Morelos believes that tourism could begin to recover in those destinations in July.
Roberto Cintrón said in an interview that hotels on the Caribbean coast could see occupancy levels of 50% in July and August provided that Mexico doesn’t present a coronavirus infection risk to tourists.
“If we want to be back as soon as possible, we have to be healthy. … When people from other countries can travel [again], they won’t travel to a place where there is a risk of infection,” he said.
Tijuana
TIJUANA— Almost overnight, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases just south of the border took a drastic jump.
Now there are 110 positive cases, according to the Secretary of Health, nearly double the number from Friday.
There are 63 in Tijuana, immediately south of San Diego and 44 in Mexicali, the state’s capital city. The others are in less populated parts of Baja.
Nine deaths have been reported in the state, six of them in Tijuana.
Ensenada Port Closed
Locals are allowed to fish for food!
San Quintin Closed…Captain Kelly Catian
Gonzaga Bay Closed
Loreto Marina Closed
Last week the federal government mandated the closing of all “on water” tourism and pretty much “all tourism.”
Today, in Loreto, the signs went up shutting down all sales of alcohol. There hasn’t been any hand-washing alcohol in a long time, and now we can’t even buy the stuff to wash our insides!
I was sure that tortilla and beer sales would be unbreakable!
As far as fishing goes, the only action has been by local people fishing for their family’s food needs.
With all work being halted, and paychecks wearing thin, there will be more people out on the water in anything that can float.
The stores are all very well stocked…..no more booze and where do I find the “hot spot” of mask sales…Rick Hill, Pinchy Sportfishing
Marina Puerto Escondido
A message from the team at Marina Puerto Escondido!
As we continue to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we wanted to take a moment to let you know how we are handling this developing situation at Marina Puerto Escondido. We will remain open until further notice. As always, the safety of our marina clients is our top priority.
For updates on the Coronavirus from the government of Baja California Sur, click here. https://coronavirus.bcs.gob.mx/
See below for a list of changes that we have instituted at the marina:
• All members of the marina team have been given gloves and other PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) products to wear when working until further notice.
• All members of the marina team are washing their hands properly and frequently, as well as avoiding touching their faces.
• Staff who are in close contact with guests are wearing gloves and must follow a “no hand-shake” policy where on-site work is needed.
• We are taking every precaution possible, including extra cleaning at our marina facilities. Our cleaning team are disinfecting doorknobs and tables regularly.
• We are promoting maintaining a healthy distance with the recommendation of keeping from six to eight feet between people.
• Marina team members with symptoms (fever, cough, and difficulty breathing) are staying home.
• We request that marina clients with symptoms avoid marina facilities.
Status of amenities/services we offer – SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
• All large gatherings at the marina are postponed until further notice.
• All charters and eco-tourism out of the marina have been suspended until further notice.
• Pepegina’s Pizza is now doing take-out orders only until further notice.
• The captains’ lounge has been temporarily CLOSED until further notice.
• All other amenities/services remain OPEN, and we ask all guests to practice from six to eight feet social distancing:
o Fuel Station: OPEN
o Dry Storage: OPEN
o Launching Ramp and Travel Lift: OPEN
o Showers and Laundry: OPEN
o Marina office: OPEN
Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected personally by COVID-19, as well as the many communities around the world that are taking extreme measures in the attempt to slow the spread of the virus. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do for you in these uncertain times.
Sincerely,
The Team at Marina Puerto Escondido
Outpost Charters Closed
Due to the suspension of all “non-essential” activities in Mexico, Outpost Charters is closed until further notice.
“I’m sad to say this was my last charter for a while. However, we will allow the yellowtail to grow and with much anticipation, we will look forward to booking charters and catching again as soon as we are able. The Outpost Charters crew and I send out the best of vibes for health and safety to our followers and clients and we will see you back on the water very soon!”…Charter Manager, Kathy Hunter:
La Paz Marina Closed
MEXICAN MINUTE LA PAZ FISHING REPORT from Tailhunter Sportfishing for Week of Mar. 30-April 6, 2020
East Cape Closed
Mark Rayor shared photo of a real oddity on East Cape beaches…Anchovies washed up on the beach. Hopefully an omen of good fishing this summer.
Water – 72- to 73 – and it’s clear and flat.
Air – We have been having beautiful, spring-like weather with clear skies and cool mornings; the highs are in the 70s to the low 80s.
A few locals have been going out this week, mostly pangas with a few cruisers mixed in. The fishing has been excellent! Lots of Spanish mackerel in Palmas Bay. Anglers are making their own bait; with few boats out. The light pressure has helped the fishing!
The fish are close–from one to three miles offshore from La Ribera to Punta Colorado. As usual for this time of year, the striped marlin are thick. Some boats are releasing as many as seven marlin.
The stripers are taking both ballyhoo and live macs.
The yellowtail bite has been good as well. Most boats are fishing the drop-offs with the mackerel, and they are taking at least three to five yellowtail a day from 5- to 20-pounds. The deep spots closest to the beach are producing the most fish.
There have been a couple of wahoo taken in the 20- to 30-pound range and a huge dorado as well.
Not bad fishing…John Ireland, Rancho Leonero
Puerto Los Cabos Closed … Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas
Puerto Los Cabos Marina officially closed all activities several days after the Port authority in Cabo San Lucas shut down, but,in the Cabo San Lucas Marina, they were not strictly enforcing the no fishing aspect. Locals were still fishing daily – a handful of pangeros were going out and saying that they were just fishing for food for their families, though they were also making a profit on the side.
As soon as our operations were shut down, just like clock-work, the local fishing action improved with excellent catches of wahoo, yellowfin tuna, as well as some bottom action for cabrilla, amberjack, and red snapper, along with a few dorado. Wahoo were congregated around the Iman Bank, striking on both rigged baitfish and Rapalas. The yellowfin were also found on these same grounds, mainly hitting strips of squid, while drift fishing. They were ranging in sizes up to 100-pounds, while the wahoo were averaging 25- to 50-pounds.
So we are basically on home lockdown now, only making trips for necessary provisions; gasoline prices have dropped some for the first time in memory, but it does not matter since we are not using much gasoline at present. It’s a great time to catch up on home maintenance projects, vehicles, boats, etc. We have more spare time than we are used to having…Eric Brictson, Gordo Banks Pangas
Cabo San Lucas Closed…Rebecca Ehrenberg, Pisces Sportfishing
The Port of Cabo San Lucas Stops Nautical Operations! The sanitary restrictions implemented to avoid the spread of COVID-19 will be enforced for sport fishing, tours, and other recreational activities onboard nautical vessels. The Port Captain of Cabo San Lucas has officially restricted all marine operations to curb the spread of COVID-19 among the nautical community in Los Cabos: Beginning on March 26, the only nautical operations allowed will be emergencies and specific loading and unloading. All tours, recreational sailing, sport fishing, and other non-essential navigation activities are suspended. The Port Captain asks all members of the maritime community to comply with this official suspension of activities.
Locals on their boats may fish to provide food for families.
Alcohol sales in the municipality of Los Cabos will be banned
• Sanctions of up to 16 thousand pesos for those who fail to comply: Tax Inspection
San José del Cabo.- Starting Monday, the “dry law” or prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages in the municipality of Los Cabos will be implemented and until further notice, as confirmed by the Chief of Fiscal Inspection José Manuel Márquez, who said That Mayor Armida Castro announced this measure and as of Monday her department will carry out the supervisory tours and apply fines to those who do not comply with this provision.
“THE TRUTH IS THAT IT IS THE RIGHT THING. I BELIEVE THAT IF WE WANT TO COMBAT WHAT THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN NOW THAT EASTER IS COMING AND FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE HEALTH SECTOR TO STAY HOME, THIS PROVISION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS THE BEST WAY TO COMBAT THIS PANDEMIC,”HE STRESSED.
He said that citizens must be made aware of what could affect us if this COVID-19 pandemic could spread, mainly in the municipality that depends on tourism.
It revealed that whoever fails to comply with this provision will be subject to fines of 100 to 200 minimum wages equivalent to 8,600 pesos up to 16,800 pesos, as established by the Alcohol Law.
“WE CALL ON MERCHANTS TO STAY ON THE SIDELINES THIS WEEK, WHICH FOR US IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT. HELP US IN THAT SENSE SO THAT THEY KEEP ALCOHOL FROM BEING SOLD AND PUT THEIR RELEVANT SIGNS IN EACH OF THE ESTABLISHMENTS,” HE CONCLUDED.
Mainland Mexico
San Carlos Closed
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Costa Rica
Guatemala
(305) 854-4665
Kirsten@CasaViejaLodge.com
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