Editor’s Note: The number of coronavirus cases remains high worldwide. Health officials warn that travel increases the chances of contracting and spreading the virus. Staying at home is the best way to stop streaming. Here’s What To Know If You Still Plan To Travel, updated Feb 22.
(CNN) – If you’re planning to travel to Mexico, here’s what to know and expect if you want to visit the country during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The base
Mexico is open to tourists. There is no need to pass a negative PCR test or quarantine upon arrival, although most resorts require guests to complete health questionnaires.
The land border between Mexico and the United States is closed for non-essential travel until at least March 21. Air travel is allowed, however.
US travelers should remember that they need a negative COVID-19 test result taken 72 hours or less prior to departure to return to the US.
The U.S. Embassy says antigen and PCR test results are reliably available in Mexico within 72 hours.
LEE: Hundreds of travelers are stranded in the Dominican Republic due to the lack of PCR tests to enter the US.
What’s on offer?
Fantastic food, beautiful beaches, vibrant cities and historic ruins.
While the beach resorts around Cancun draw the most visitors, those who want more go for the cultural weight of Mexico City, the Baja California coast and traditional cities like Oaxaca.
Who can go?
Mexico currently has some of the loosest border restrictions, and anyone can travel by air for business or pleasure.
What are the limitations?
Travelers to the country must complete a health statement and scan the QR code it generates upon arrival.
There is no need to test or perform any kind of quarantine before departure. Those concerned that they may have symptoms should contact the Sanidad Internacional health organization.
The land border with the United States remains closed for much-needed travel, while the southern border with Guatemala has also been periodically closed.
What is the situation of the covid?
Mexico had recorded more than 2 million cases of Covid-19 and more than 180,000 deaths on Feb. 22 (although some believe the number is higher).
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been criticized for taking an approach to let it go against the virus.
The limitations were not far-reaching and life went on normally for many, leading to such high rates of death and infections, according to critics.
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What can visitors expect?
Mexico has a four-level traffic light restriction system, with red for maximum restrictions, orange for limiting capacity in public areas and at work to 30%, yellow allowing all work to be resumed and public meetings held, and green, which means means no restrictions there.
View a color-coded map here.
As of February 22, most states were classified as orange. Only the state of Chiapas, in southern Mexico, was shown in green.
Mexico City, referred to as orange, has taken tough measures, with fluctuating restrictions on restaurants and bars.
Visitors are likely to find the situation different depending on where they travel in the country, with different local restrictions.
LOOK: Mexico City registers a decrease in covid-19 infections and moves to the orange traffic light
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Joe Minihane, Julia Buckley, Forrest Brown and Marnie Hunter contributed to this report.