Mexico's government announced this week that they are going to ease the nationwide lockdown from May 18 to reactivate an economy that ground to a halt two months ago to contain the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The first stage will see economic activity resumes in 269 municipalities, out of a total of more than 2,450, in 15 of the 32 states, areas that have registered zero or a low number of COVID-19 infections.

From May 18 to May 31, the second stage will see certain economic sectors begin to prepare to resume activity, including construction, mining, and automotive manufacturing.

Mexico is going to train workers so they have a safe working environment.

Stage three will begin June 1, with a color-coded alarm system, or traffic light (red, orange, yellow, and green), put in place to monitor public health by region as the reopening continues, and signal the need to reinforce social distancing and other measures if needed.

Schools will not completely reopen until the system permanently signals green.
According to Education Minister Esteban Moctezuma, the school year has already advanced by as much as 73 to 80 percent, with the academic cycle set to end July 17.

Mexico's Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell warned easing the lockdown is fraught with uncertainty.

Mexico has reported 38,324 confirmed cases of infection and 3,926 deaths since the first case was detected on Feb. 28.