Transition to the orange color to resume activities in Mexico City

On June 12, 2020, the notice announcing the color of Mexico City epidemiological four-color coding system and the notice announcing the list of Health Protection Guidelines, Norms, Guides and/or Protocols, which must be complied with by the sectors to resume activities, towards a return to the New Normality, were published in the Official Gazette of Mexico City.

As indicated in the above-mentioned notice, Mexico City Monitoring Committee determined that, during the period from June 15 to 21, the color of the four-color coding system will remain red, with the development of activities and measures that allow a gradual and orderly incorporation towards the orange color. This transition implies, among others, the following activities:

a) As of June 15, the Hoy No Circula (No Driving) Program resumes, and the extraordinary restriction on vehicle traffic due to the declaration of Phase 3 of the health emergency by COVID-19 is no longer in effect.

b) As of June 16, the manufacturing industry may resume activities from Monday to Thursday starting at 10:00 am.

c) As of June 18, commerce in colonies, towns and neighborhoods may restart activities.

In this regard, it should be noted that within the guidelines for health protection measures published on the website of the Government of Mexico City, which can be consulted in this link, it is not expressly included a definition of what should be understood by “comercio de barrio”, however, derived from its wording we can argue that it includes businesses with less than 5 employees in colonies, neighborhoods and towns of Mexico City. From the guidelines mentioned above and from what was stated by the Head of Government of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum, in the press conference held on Friday June 12, we could say that the businesses that comply with this aforementioned requirement can be reactivated on the mentioned date.

Notwithstanding the above, in terms of the notice announcing the color of the four-color coding system, not all neighborhood businesses can be reactivated on June 18, only those whose business is stationery, books, magazines, newspapers, hardware, haberdashery, hosiery, laundry, dry cleaning, carpentry and ironwork. Likewise, the Mexico City Government has expressly excluded those businesses located in the Historical Center or in Plazas and Shopping Centers and Department Stores, hairdressers, beauticians, bars, canteens, gyms, clubs, bars and spas.

In view of the lack of alignment between the above mentioned criteria, it will be important that our clients and business partners who could be considered included within the definition of “comercio de barrio” consult the system publicized by the Mexico City Government in last Friday’s press conference, which can be accessed through this link. By means of said system identified as “Portal for the publication and acceptance of sanitary measures for the operation of businesses”, which, according to what was informed would be available as of June 15, the Mexico City Government will confirm the date in which certain business line will be able to reactivate its activities and in accordance with which guidelines. In the event that a certain line of business is authorized to be reactivated, the system will allow downloading and printing a receipt that must be fixed in the relevant premises.

On the other hand, although it has not been published in the Official Gazette of Mexico City, in terms of the guidelines applicable to professional, scientific and technical services related to the industry and what was stated in last Friday’s press conference, as of June 19.

The guidelines published on the official website of the Mexico City Government are binding in terms of the publication made on May 29th in the Official Gazette of Mexico City.

Finally, it will be important to remember that, in terms of recent publications made by the Mexico City Government, every Friday the color of the four-color coding system will be announced in the Official Gazette of Mexico City, which will come into effect the following Monday, so it will not be possible to confirm that the following week the color of the coding system will indeed be orange. On the other hand, we remind you that the Mexico City Monitoring Committee, is authorized to relocate an economic sector or activity in a different color from the coding system to and determine additional measures to restrict activities or modify existing guidelines.

Should you have any questions or require advice in relation to the above, please do not hesitate to contact any of our partners or associates.

Yours sincerely,

Cannizzo