The Covid virus resurges

Update 7 December 2020: Both California and Baja California face new restrictions starting 7 December.

The pandemic is swamping the United States and the trend in Mexico is similar but smaller. Health organizations around the world fear that the period from January through April 2021 will bring the most severe and stressful conditions yet. New infections caused by families and friends celebrating in the Christmas/New Year holiday period will accelerate the virus spread.

As of today, Baja California re-enters the “Red Traffic Light” phase and residents are required to stay at home and shelter in place as much as possible. Restrictions will be placed on businesses and public events as shown in the graphic below.

San Felipe remains calm and quiet. Very few tourists are able to come here as the Mexican and US governments have extended the border closure for “non-essential” travel until at least 21 December 2020.

Update 21 December 2020 : The border closure between USA and Mexico has been extended to at least 21 January 2121. The virus has made a big comeback both in California and Baja California. Lockdowns continue. Stay calm, Stay at Home. We all need to follow the public health guidance and protocols.

“Sanitary filters” may periodically be imposed on vehicles driving south across the Calexico-Mexicali border to ensure that only people with legitimate work or business reasons are on the roads.

While a vaccine for the virus is being prepared for emergency use in both countries in the next few weeks, it is clear that the millions of doses needed will not be available to the general public until around the middle of 2021. Until around 70% of the population has been successfully vaccinated (2 shots) it is unlikely that tourism in the form that we remember it will be able to resume. It is possible that some form of “family bubble” travel could work, where a group driving in a single car could come and stay in a condominium or rental house, but they would have to agree not to socialize with other visitors or to party in town. Easter Week in San Felipe in 2021 would likely be cancelled.

San Felipe to vote on 13 December 2020 on whether to become an independent Municipio

On 13 December, a plebiscite will be held for citizens with elector credentials to vote on whether to separate from Mexicali and become the seventh municipality in the state of Baja California. Some 3500 votes are needed for this to pass. This is the culmination of a process that has been ongoing for more than 30 years. If it is successful, the new municipality would be eligible for grants and development programs funded by the Government of Mexico. It would also gain access to the considerable tax money generated in the region and open up its rules and regulations to benefit the new entity. The new “city” would extend from just north of La Ventana to just south of Punta Final as shown conceptually in the diagram below.

Conceptual map of the future Municipio of San Felipe

This is a big deal and is the key factor in the future growth of San Felipe. I hope to discuss the possibilities once the vote has passed.