Central Coast holiday travel to Mexico way down following CDC warning
At this time of year, many in the central coast Latino community should be planning their holiday trips to Mexico, but travel agents say they’re not seeing the rush.
“Oh yeah and especially this time we should be very busy and it's empty because they're scared to travel,” said Carmen Marroquin, owner of America Travel in east Salinas.
As they should be, according to the CDC Mexico is listed as very high when it comes to COVID-19 levels.
And now comes a warning from the federal agency for travelers to avoid all travel to Mexico; it may increase your chance of getting or spreading COVID-19.
Marroquin says cancellations are already being made.
“Since yesterday I've been receiving calls they cancel their flight they're rescheduling for next year because they want to be safe,” said Marroquin.
School leaders in Salinas also sounding the alarm.
“We encourage everybody to observe all of the safety precautions and one of the most important ones right now is don't travel,” said Jim Koenig, superintendent of the Alisal unified school district.
Koenig runs the largest school system in east Salinas, the same area that has the highest COVID-19 positivity rates in Monterey county.
Koenig says the district plans to send out letters to staff and parents warning them to avoid traveling out of the area.
“We're getting into the home stretch there is no reason to take on any additional risk at this time do your part to keep your family and your community safe and just stay where you are,” Koenig said.
The CDC recommends if you travel to Mexico get a COVID test upon your return and quarantine for at least seven days.