COVID-19: US, Mexico plan to close border to non-essential travel

Amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, the United States of America and Mexico are working on a plan to close their border to non-essential travel due to the coronavirus pandemic, the State Department said on Thursday (March 19).

The move comes as similar measures are expected to come into force along the northern border with Canada by Saturday (March 21).

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubon spoke on “coordinating a plan to restrict non-essential travel across our shared border in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said.

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“The two leaders discussed the importance of creating a uniform North American strategy to reduce public health risks to our communities and more effectively address rising challenges jointly,” he added.

Taking to Twitter, Pompeo said that he had been working closely with Ebrard “on travel restrictions that balance protecting our citizens from further transmission of COVID19. Together, we can reduce public health risks and prioritize essential cross-border commerce and trade.”

#Mexico Foreign Secretary @m_ebrard and I have been working closely on travel restrictions that balance protecting our citizens from further transmission of #COVID19. Together, we can reduce public health risks and prioritize essential cross-border commerce and trade.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) March 20, 2020

In a tweet, Ebrard said he would reveal more details of the closure on Friday.

The measure follows similar US moves to bar visitors from most of Europe, China and other parts of the world as its number of coronavirus cases surges.

(With inputs from agencies)