San Miguel De Allende Maintains Its ‘Health First’ Approach To Covid-19, 100% Hotel Occupancy During Holidays

SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE, Mexico — The Mexican colonial city of San Miguel de Allende had a highly successful holiday season, reporting 100% occupancy of the current 50% of existing hotel rooms available for booking. With more than 200,000 inhabitants, the city has recorded 1,800 total cases of Covid-19, one of the lowest number of cases in the country, with its government officials sticking to a “Health First” stance.

Access to San Miguel de Allende was closed from March to June 2020 to non-residents, sacrificing the local economy for the health and wellness of its residents. On May 25, the city launched its “Health First” certification, which is granted after local health and safety officials evaluate each location and certify compliance with sanitary protocols for reopening.

This was followed on July 2 with San Miguel de Allende receiving the World Travel and Tourism Council’s “Safe Travels” stamp. This was seen as an acknowledgement of the many sacrifices the city has made to contain the pandemic and ensure that all international requirements are met. Today, 245 hotels, 336 restaurants, seven spas and 20 tourist guides have been certified, reactivating the city’s tourism industry slowly and safely.

In August, restaurants, hotels and all establishments that operate a reservation system were required to complete an additional process to generate a QR code (square two-dimensional barcode) with which patrons were able to enter the city and thereby maintain a 50% occupancy in all establishments. Staff at every entry point to the city oversaw reading the codes and completion of a second questionnaire on the current health status of possible visitors before they were allowed into San Miguel de Allende.

Within city limits, disinfectant stations have placed along the streets and mask-wearing is mandatory. Those not complying are arrested. All city events in San Miguel de Allende have been suspended, including celebrations of the Day of the Dead, the Virgin of Guadalupe, Christmas and the New Year. Currently alcoholic beverages may only be sold within the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and bars and restaurants are limited to 50% capacity. Hotels, too, continue to operate at 50% of potential capacity.

The city of San Miguel is also working with local medical facilities to be able to provide easy access to Covid-19 testing with hotels offering their own opportunities for guest. The following are the locations currently offering rapid testing.

HOSPITAL MAC SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE Address: Camino a Alcocer 12, Saltito de Guadalupe, 37745 San Miguel de Allende, Gto. Telephone: 415 150 3900 Web: https://hospitalesmac.com/unidadmedica/snmiguel.html

UNIMED SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE Located in: Plaza 4 Quince Address: Salida a Celaya No 3, Centro, 37700 San Miguel de Allende, Gto. Telephone: 415 120 0465 Web: https://unimedhs.negocio.site/

BIOTEC-LAB Address: Salida a Querétaro 187, Ignacio Ramirez, 37746 San Miguel de Allende, Gto. Telephone: 415 130 2144 Web: http://www.bioteclab.com.mx/

Laboratorio de análisis clínicos Bios-Lab Address: Hidalgo No.55, Centro. Telephone: 415 154 7322 Web: www.bios-lab.blogspot.mx/
Sedfar Address: Av. 1o. de Mayo No.110, Ignacio Ramirez Telephone: 415 688 2514 Web: www.sedfar.com.mx/english