Less than two weeks and counting down! Rocky Point is slated to open on June 16th and we are very excited and eager to welcome everyone back. We’ve decided to do an online-only edition of the Rocky Point Times Newspaper again for June, but fully expect to light up the presses for the July edition. We can’t wait for our visitors to return, our businesses to start thriving, and to smell that hot-off-the-press newsprint smell. So, look forward to picking up a copy of the July edition of the Rocky Point Times Newspaper.

THE PLAN IS TO OPEN ROCKY POINT ON JUNE 16TH

We have some very exciting news today!! Thanks to the efforts of Ing. Miguel Guevara and Mary Snyder of Encantame Towers, the Rocky Point Times Newspaper and Rocky Point 360° were invited to attend a video conference this morning with Puerto Peñasco Mayor, Kiko Munro, where he answered our questions about the city’s current Phase II and what we can expect in Phase III, which will be activated on June 16th. We all continually strive to bring you the latest and most accurate information and this opportunity gave us an open door to our Mayor. As you can imagine, he is extremely busy these days.

June 16th – PHASE III

• Beaches open

• Pools open

• 3 Incoming lanes at Sanitary Fence

• 1 Outgoing lane at Sanitary Fence

• Spray Booth eliminated

• Complimentary masks handed out at Sanitary Fence (must be worn in common areas like Malecon)

• Thermal Camera scans all occupants with no need to exit vehicle

• If all occupants are within normal temperature range you proceed into city

• Infrared thermometer available if camera shows high temp.

• COVID Rapid Tests available at no charge

• No vehicle restrictions (i.e.: 2 persons per vehicle)

• Most restaurants and businesses open

The plan is for restaurants, businesses, and beaches to be open on June 16th and Mayor Kiko Munro said that we will all know, well in advance, specific details as to what to expect going into Phase III. For example, the sanitary fence will still be in place, but entry will be expanded to 3 lanes, instead of 1, the sanitation spray booth will most likely be eliminated, and the thermal camera will be used to scan everyone in your vehicle – fast and simple. The city will be releasing a Phase II graph on Monday, June 1st, which will detail businesses that can open and in what capacity as well as other anticipated information. In the meantime, below are some things we know you all are very interested in knowing about June 16th, so, if you haven’t made your reservation for June 16th…do so now!!

Before we jump ahead to June 16th, I want to clear up some confusion and questions about our current Phase. Through June 7th, full-time residents are being allowed to return to their homes in Rocky Point. This does NOT include property owners who just want to come and check their property or hang out. A lot of people are being turned back for not being full-time residents and/or not having the proper documentation proving that they are full-time residents. So, if you do not live here full-time – as in you have NO other residence – please do not come down until June 16th. I know this is a bummer, but trust me, it will be well worth it come June 16th when everyone can come down!

During this current Phase II, detailed personal information is being collected when residents are entering town and decals are being affixed to their vehicles, so this is why the lines have been long. The city is also using this time to learn what to do and what not to do – what problems/complications to expect – and what can be avoided or sped up when June 16th rolls around. Everyone should thank the full-time residents for being so patient! This time is also being used to educate everyone from the city itself, to the Army, Police, Red Cross, Military, etc. Remember, they have lots of questions themselves as this is a NEW experience for everyone and EVERYONE is looking to the city for answers, as are we. We know that you all are very eager to get to Rocky Point, but please, please, wait until June 16th to give everyone time to make your next trip to Rocky Point a breeze and please bring your patience with you.

City Mayor, Kiko Munro was very candid saying that, “Puerto Peñasco will get COVID cases no matter what”, so the city is taking great measures to make it as safe as possible for all of us. He absolutely does not want our medical system overwhelmed so going through these phases gives them more time. In addition, businesses are being asked to adapt to a “new normal”, for now, and individuals are asked to follow certain protocols, which the city will make available soon. In the case of face masks, which is a hot topic, as of June 16th, the general public will still need to wear them in common areas such as the Malecon and Rodeo Drive, but not the beach areas. You will most likely have to wear one entering a restaurant, but not in the restaurant as they are following “social distancing” guidelines. Restaurant staff and other personnel will be required by the city to wear masks. Complimentary masks will be handed out at the Sanitary Filter and you need to grab one if you didn’t bring your own as some businesses may require them to be worn inside their place of business. I know this irks some of you, but you can decide whether or not to patronize that business or go into common areas. I am not a big fan of masks either, but keep in mind that everyone has their own opinions, reasons, fears, logic and it really is just a minor inconvenience for a brief amount of time. And don’t be surprised if you are asked to go through sanitation tunnels and to use hand sanitizer when entering businesses.

Our Mayor also said in the meeting this morning that the only thing that will prohibit us from opening up on June 16th , “is if there is an outbreak of COVID cases that we can’t control”, which the city does not expect and is why they took, and are taking, extreme measures during Phase I and II.

There are State and Federal Guidelines that have been published, but I am just focusing on what I know our readers are most interested in hearing. Rocky Point 360° will most likely go in-depth about these so check them out if you are interested. There has much chatter about the Federal “Stoplight” Map and a proposed Health Card, but I don’t want to expound on either of these items since the Health Card is just a “future idea” and the Map just causes confusion – at least for me it does. Yes, there are Federal guidelines, but we are mostly concerned with what our Mayor does and what is relevant to our city and all of this “information” takes away from what we all really want to know, which is when can we come down, what can we expect, what rules do we need to follow…and when will the beaches be open??!!! Of course, we are always happy to answer any questions you have about information at the Federal and State levels, just email, phone, or DM us.

The majority of our wonderful readers and followers (and newbies) will be coming down on or after June 16th and here are some highlights of what you can expect. As I said, the city will make details available well in advance of the 16th and as of now this is the plan.

What can you expect on June 16th?

As you enter Rocky Point, on or after June 16th, your vehicle will be scanned by a thermal camera. If anyone’s temperature reads high (needs to be below 37.5°C/99.5F), they will be asked to exit the vehicle and then scanned with an infrared thermometer. If the thermometer also shows a high temperature, the person will then have the option to take the COVID Rapid Test, at no charge, or return to their point of origin. If the Rapid Test comes back positive for COVID-19, then they will be asked to return to where they came from. This will apply to EVERYONE in the vehicle as you may have all been exposed. I stress this because you will be ruining the vacation for everyone if you are feeling ill and come down anyway.

If you do show a high temperature via both the thermal camera and infrared thermometer, but your Rapid Test comes back negative, you will be asked to visit a healthcare provider to figure out why you are showing a high temperature – there very well may be something medically wrong with you.

If everyone in your vehicle shows a normal temperature range (under 37.5°C/99.5F) you will be permitted entrance to the city and no one will need to exit the vehicle to take a 2nd test. You will be on your way to the beach and lots of fun!!

The only other missing piece to getting “back to normal” will be lifting the border travel restrictions, which have been slated for June 22nd by the U.S. As far as coming into Mexico, Kiko stated that he is working very closely with the person in charge in Sonoyta and expects no problems with visitors entering Mexico on, and after June 16th. The border hours, to enter Mexico at Sonoyta, are currently 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM to re-enter the United States at Lukeville. For now, we are going with these hours and will update them as soon as we hear they have changed. (Our normal border hours are 6:00 AM to midnight.)

Mayor Kiko Munro stressed that he is being very cautious, and the city is taking every precaution so that we experience no relapse or setback of any kind. Many of us are desperately awaiting your return so we do not want to do anything to screw up our goal of opening on June 16th.  I know some of you like to be rebels, as do I, but I am begging you to just hang in there and wait until June 16th to come down unless, of course, you are a full-time resident.

On June 16th you can most likely expect to have your temperature taken at some businesses around town like restaurants and when you check into your condo or hotel. I know it does seem redundant, after having gone through the Sanitary Filter, but it is just an added level of protection for everyone because we DO NOT want to go backwards and have to shut everything down again. I, for one, do not want to go another 3 months not being able to visit my beaches and favorite establishments. So, please, please be patient and understanding and remember that these minor inconveniences will be totally worth it once you sink your toes in the sand and hit your favorite haunts.