Three cruise liners dock in Progreso as Yucatán breaks new record for COVID-19 infections
Three cruise ships docked in Progreso at the same time, bringing with them a combined total of 2,394 passengers and 749 crewmembers.
All three ships docked in the morning, giving their passengers plenty of time to enjoy their day in the port city.
The cruise goers filled beachside restaurants, bars, and shops, to the delight of business owners.
State authorities have confirmed that the passengers from all three cruise liners were verified to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before the beginning of their voyage.
Before being allowed ashore, all passengers were required to pass through a checkpoint where they were checked for COVID-19 symptoms such as fever.
The arrival of these three ships coincided with the explosion of new COVID-19 infections.
Earlier: Tourists face long lines and cramped ferries in Mayan Riviera
Yucatán coronavirus cases leaped from 269 on Monday to 394 on Tuesday, health authorities announced. It was the highest daily total since Sept. 10, 2021, when 299 cases were reported.
Among these new infections was Mérida’s Mayor, Renán Barrera Concha, who is currently in quarantine and working from home with mild symptoms.
COVID-19 deaths have averaged no more than one or two a day for the past couple of weeks — though hospitalizations have increased considerably.
In July, Progreso welcomed its first cruise ship for the first time in 16 months. Since that time Yucatán’s cruise sector has begun to recover lost ground, though it is still far from achieving pre-pandemic levels of passengers.
In neighboring Quintana Roo, all cruising companies operating in the state before the COVID-19 pandemic have resumed operations, and have even increased their number of voyagers to Cozumel to keep up with pent-up demand.
Senior Editor Carlos Rosado van der Gracht is a Mexican expedition/Canadian photographer and adventure leader. Born in Mérida, Carlos holds multimedia, philosophy, and translation degrees from universities in Mexico, Canada and Norway.