Authorities in Telchac announced that its boardwalk and beaches would be closed until further notice.
The news comes one week after Progreso, Yucatán’s most popular beach, introduced similar measures — but only during weekends.
Authorities in both Telchac and Progreso are hoping that boardwalk and beach closures will contribute to a slowing of COVID-19 infection rates, which lately have been breaking daily records.
The general sentiment among Yucatán’s population when it comes to these types of closures has been one of acceptance and resignation.
But this is not the case for everyone.
“It looks like they (the government) are always on the lookout for ways to HURT business owners with this farse,” said Karla Peraza, a Telchac local, posted on Facebook in response to the announcement.
Other than Progreso and Telchac, all other beaches including Celestún, Chuburna Puerto, and San Benito remain open throughout the week.
Earlier: Rare baby Lora turtles seen in Yucatán for the first time
Epidemiologists disagree regarding the likelihood of contracting COVID-in open-air spaces such as beaches and parks.
Many in Yucatán are questioning the wisdom of shutting down open-air spaces such as beaches and parks while allowing shopping malls, restaurants, and movie theatres to continue opening — even though they are operating at a reduced capacity.
Some chatter online suggests that select businesses and public spaces be allowed to return to full capacity but only granting admission to people who can prove that they have been fully vaccinated, using Mexico’s recently implemented COVID-19 passport.
Although some versión of this idea may become a reality someday, to date fewer than 20% of people in Yucatán have been fully immunized against COVID-19 — with the lion’s share being made up of people 60 and over.
As of Monday, Mexico’s government has fully inoculated approximately 20 million people against COVID-19.
