Health

What is happening at the border crossings between Baja California and the United States?

Restrictions, filters, COVID-19 testing and more, that's what you'll find at this border

Photo by: Archivo SDR

You live in Baja California and you are one of the lost ones on issues about the current situation caused by COVID-19 that is happening in the world and therefore in the busiest border in the world, Tijuana-San Diego, here we tell you what is currently happening in the border crossings of this region.

1. Border crossing restrictions extended

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) confirmed this Friday morning, August 14, the extension of the border crossings between Mexico and the United States until September 21, 2020.

So until this day, people with a tourist visa will not be able to cross, and it can only be done if it is for an essential activity.

2. These are the essential trips allowed to cross between Mexico and the United States

According to authorities in Mexico and the United States, to avoid the spread and infection of COVID-19, people who want to enter the American country may do so alone:

- U.S. citizens and permanent residents returning to the United States

- Individuals traveling for medical reasons (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States)

- Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions

- Individuals traveling to work in the United States (e.g., those working in the agricultural industry who must travel between the United States, Canada, and Mexico for that purpose)

- Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency personnel entering the United States in support of federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts in response to COVID-19 or other emergencies)

- Individuals involved in legitimate cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers moving cargo between the United States, Canada and Mexico)

- Individuals on official government or diplomatic trips

- Military traveling or carrying out operations

3. COVID-19 Free Test Sites

This space operates Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., outside the Ped East crosswalk in San Ysidro, being directed (obviously) to essential workers crossing from Tijuana to this part of the United States.

In addition to being free, no appointment is necessary and the information provided will be confidential, in turn, they do NOT ask for your immigration status, address and identification.

4. Sanitary Filters at Mexicali Border Crossings

If you want to cross to Baja California by another of its ports that is not the one of Tijuana, it is important that you know that authorities of Mexicali opted to place sanitary filters in Mexicali-Calexico, in the Garita Oeste, Garita Este and Los Algodones, as well as in strategic points of the highway to San Luis Rio Colorado and Colonias Nuevas.

These filters are installed every weekend (Friday to Sunday), from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The following is reviewed at these sites: Use of mask, symptoms of people interested in crossing, number of people traveling by car (only 2), and above all that their activity is essential.

It is worth noting that in case of non-compliance, people waiting to enter Mexicali must either return to the United States or pay a fine of between $200 and $500 dollars.

Now you know, this is a bit of what Mexican and U.S. authorities have implemented to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

We invite you to follow the health measures established by health experts, as well as to avoid going out if it is not essential.

So far, Baja California reports 15 thousand 112 positive coronavirus cases and 2 thousand 884 deaths due to this virus; while only the state of California registers 603 thousand 007 positive cases and 11 thousand and 5 deaths.

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