Mexico, US extend ban on non-essential border crossings until October

MEXICO CITY - Mexico and the United States will continue to ban non-essential border crossings until Oct 21 due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Mexico's Foreign Affairs Ministry said on Thursday.

Mexico's government recommended extending the ban originally imposed on March 21, after assessing the current state of COVID-19 outbreaks, the ministry said.

"After reviewing the development of the spread of COVID-19, Mexico proposed to the United States extending for another month the restrictions on non-essential ground traffic on their shared border," the ministry said via Twitter.

The nearly six-month ban prevents border crossings for tourism, leisure or shopping but does not affect trade or crossing for work or medical reasons.