Some Merchants In Sonoran Capital Prepare For Reopening

By Murphy Woodhouse
Published: Friday, July 3, 2020 - 4:04pm

As in Arizona, the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on small merchants in neighboring Sonora. But after lobbying state officials, some may be poised to reopen.

This week, Sonoran officials started inspecting a number of shops in the state capital Hermosillo to ensure they had measures in place to reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission. If they meet those requirements, some could open up as soon as next week.

“Of the businesses that have been close, 52 have decided to shut down completely,” said Hermosillo Merchants Union President Ruben López.

Roughly 50 of the group’s 600 or so members were able to stay open under the terms of Sonora’s lockdown. He said around 150 have safety measures in place — like hand sanitizer and signs indicating mask and distancing requirements — and are waiting for inspectors to visit.

“The probability of increasing infections by opening up stores like the ones being inspected now is minimal,” he said.

That’s because they are largely lower-traffic shops where owners have an even greater interest in observing safety measures because they and their families work there, according to López. Confirmed cases and deaths, which are fast approaching 1,000, have been rising quickly in Sonora in recent weeks.

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