The restaurant industry in neighboring Sonora is hoping for a relaxation of some pandemic measures.

Top Mexican health officials have talked about the country beginning the transition to the endemic phase of the coronavirus and also recently announced the ending of the national COVID-19 risk map. When and if the same happens in Sonora, the restaurant industry is hoping that some measures — like temperature checks and mandatory masking — gradually go away.

“To the degree that we advance toward that endemic stage,” said Manuel Lira, head of Canirac, which represents restaurants in the state, “we’ll surely move toward a process where fewer requirements will be demanded of us, and of other businesses in general.”

Even if that does happen, he said he thinks that some practices — like widely available antibacterial gel and masked employees — may stick around for a while.