Puerto Rico puts a halt in tourism

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

In a recent changing turn of events, Puerto Rico has decided to put its tourism reopening on hold and is now discouraging nonessential travel after reopening to inbound tourism earlier in July. The decision comes in light of the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the island.

It was around last week that Governor Wanda Vazquez announced a new date for reopening the tourism sector around August 15. After welcoming back tourists on July 15, various business owners in tourist areas like Condado and Pinones informed the press that many tourists refused to adhere to Vazquez’s orders to wear masks and practice physical distancing.

Around Saturday, a protest caravan gathered to call upon authorities to close down all forms of nonessential travel activities from the San Juan International Airport as swarm of tourists continued to arrive despite rising coronavirus cases. Therefore, a curfew on the island has been established and is in effect through July 31 from 10 P.M. to 5 A.M. barring emergencies.

According to the new rules, every individual has been advised to wear face masks or face coverings when in public. Beaches are now only open to people doing solo sports or exercise training from 5 A.M. to 7 P.M. All theatres, casinos, bars, clubs, attractions, and gyms have been closed. Restaurants and museums are operating at 50% capacity and alcohol sales have been banned after 7 P.M.

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