After Mexicali became the county with most infections and active COVID-19 cases in Baja California, ranking first on the list nationally, authorities in the state capital decided to carry out a strategy to reduce the spreading among its residents and U.S. citizens, being that the city is located in a border state.

"Because of the mobility issue we saw that a few months ago Mexicali was #3 in the nation with the most infections, and one of the reasons was the issue of citizens coming from the United States to Mexicali to spend the weekend, where infections increased," said the director of Economic Development of Mexicali, Alfonso Vildosola in an interview for San Diego Red.

For this reason, sanitary filters were placed at the Mexicali-Calexico border crossing since June 19, and recently at the West, East and Los Algodones checkpoints, where the symptoms of people wanting to visit Baja California, the use of masks and only two people traveling by car are checked, but above all that they come only for essential activities, said the director.

"If the person is from Mexicali and works in the United States, then obviously he can return to Mexicali, but by identifying that he lives here," explained Vildosola.

In addition, these filters which are set every weekend (from Friday) from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., also ensure that no more than 12 beers (cans or bottles) are crossed over and if so they will be confiscated and thrown away by the authorities.

What happens if I fail to comply with any of these measures? According to Alfonso Vildósola, you are given the option of either returning or paying a fine of between $200 and $500 dollars, depending on the reason for the fine.

"It can be for masks, for excess of people, it can be for not obeying the orders of the authorities. They are fined and asked to go to the police station to pay the fine, they are escorted to the police station," said the Economic Development director of the county.

Vildosola also indicated that 80% of the fines that are generated in these filters are for not wearing masks, making sure that non-essential mobility in Mexicali decreases.

In addition, only last weekend (July 17-19) 200 cars wanting to enter for non-essential activities were returned.

Although this initiative of the sanitary filters upset people who cross through these ports for the first time, the effect has been positive, said Vildosola, since not only has mobility decreased, but Mexicali went from being in third place in Mexico with most infections to number 27 on the list.

It is worth mentioning that since San Felipe is part of Mexicali and its tourist beach, a filter was placed on this road by Public Safety, "where if you arrive, whether a U.S. citizen, even one from Mexicali or Tijuana or anywhere else, and your are going to a tourist destination, you return as well," said the authority.

So far, it is expected that these filters will remain until the state color changes on the epidemiological traffic light chart, or until health authorities authorize their removal.

"For Mexicali, it has been difficult, but the fact that the infections have decreased has helped. We have already begun to reopen some non-essential businesses in Mexicali, such as restaurants, gyms and shopping malls, obviously for the people of Mexicali," said the Economic Development expert.

Finally, Alfonso Vildosola asked the population of both countries to continue to comply with the sanitary filters, since what worries Mexicali authorities most is the saturation of its hospitals and not being able to treat its residents.

Related: Correct use of masks

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