Mexico border town forces travelers arriving from Arizona to walk through sanitizing tunnels in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19

A northern Mexico border town across from Arizona is forcing travelers arriving from the United States to walk through a sanitizer tunnel in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

City government officials in Nogales, a municipality in the state of Sonora, installed several tent tunnels last week that are specifically designed to release a special vaporized sanitizer at three border entry ports.

Nogales mayor Jesús Pujol said that he hopes the tent setup will minimize the possibility of a massive COVID-19 outbreak due to the daily arrival of foreigners - mostly U.S. citizens - and Mexican nationals.

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Motorists arriving from Arizona wait in traffic as they required to enter a sanitizing tunnel in the Sonora municipality of Nogales. Government officials installed the first of five tents that spray each foreign visitor and Mexican national with a special chemical that  protects the skin and clothing from bacteria or viruses, including COVID-19, for a period of 24 hours

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A visitor stops at one of the three Nogales, Mexico, border entry points and is sprayed with a vaporized sanitizer that protects the skin and clothing from bacteria or viruses, including COVID-19, for a period of 24 hours

The Nogales Mariposas, Nogales Deconcini and Nogales Morley Gate port of entries are each staffed with extra personnel to ensure that every person who arrives by foot or vehicle enter the tents. 

According to Municipal Health Director, Jesús Alberto Dicochea Aguilar, each tunnel 'applies a quaternary, biodegradable and disinfectant water solution to people that, by means of vaporization, will be supplied to the exterior of the body of individuals when crossing to Nogales, Sonora.' 

It protects the skin and clothing from bacteria or viruses, including COVID-19, for a period of 24 hours.

Dicochea Aguilar said that the solution is different from what is being released by other sanitizing tents that have been set up at other points in Mexico, including food markets, public buildings and the streets.

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A law enforcement agent oversees a sanitizing tunnel that was set up last week at a border entry point in Nogales, Mexico 

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A male individual enters one of the five sanitizing tunnels that are being placed at three border entry stations in Nogales, Mexico, in an effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic

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The Nogales city government plans to place five sanitizing tents at its port of entries, including one which can be accessed by pedestrians. It is also planning on installing other sanitizing tents at area hospitals.

The Nogales government plans to place five sanitizing tents at its port of entries, including one which can be accessed by pedestrians. It is also planning on installing other sanitizing tents at area hospitals.

Heath ministry data updated by the Mexican government Tuesday showed that the ravaging coronavirus has killed 3,573 people and infected 36,327 others. 

As of Tuesday, Sonora government indicated there have been 48 deaths and 588 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state. Officials reported five deaths and 50 positive cases in Nogales. 

Arizona reported 11,736 cases and 562 deaths as of Tuesday.

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A motorist awaits his turn to enter a sanitizing tunnel at a border station in northern Mexico