Companies from cement maker Cemex to brewer Femsa went back to work and Mayan ruins and Aztec pyramids reopened to tourists, although many small enterprises were nervous that lingering fear over catching swine flu would smother business for days to come.
"I hope to return to normal because this is hitting us really hard," said Ernesto Morales, a waiter at the Cafe Genova in Mexico City, where following government guidance, patrons were being seated more than 6 feet apart.
Mexico's giant capital of 20 million people as well as provincial cities ground almost to a halt last Friday as the government ordered non-essential businesses to close to curb the spread of a virus that has killed 42 people in Mexico and two in the United States.
The flu crisis waylaid a country already in recession and could knock an additional 0.3 to 0.5 of a percentage point off 2009 gross domestic product, the government said.
Tourism, which accounts for roughly 8 percent of the economy, has taken a hit and the five-day shutdown dented the income of the millions of shoe shiners and juice makers who depend on foot traffic to make a living.
At a hair salon in the normally buzzing Zona Rosa district, clients were desperate to book appointments.
"Everybody is stressed out," said salon owner Antonio Fonseca, who reckons he lost some $6,000 in income. "Five days without working but with all the same bills to pay."
Mexican schools remained closed as a precaution against the never-before-seen flu strain, which has infected some 2,000 people in at least 24 countries.
Cinemas were required to leave two seats empty between customers, and restaurants had to limit their hours and could not seat more than four people at a table.
"This is a return to normal but only in a manner of speaking," said Eduardo Corte, a cafe manager. "Of 24 tables, I've only got half of them available and the hours are shorter. There are a lot of restrictions."
Public Transport 'launders' Money
In Tijuana, on the northern border with California, life slowly returned to normal, although people continued to wear face masks, especially in taxis, restaurants and banks. Farther south, the port of Ensenada was lamenting the diversion of cruise ships to nearby San Diego.
"We hope the government helps us out because in just a few days we saw a catastrophic collapse of 80 percent in sales," said Julian Palombo, president of an association of tourism-related businesses in Tijuana. The government has offered tax relief to some affected companies.
In Ciudad Juarez, on the border with Texas, traffic was light and dentists specializing in serving bargain-hunting Americans reopened.
"(The government) created useless panic instead of helping us out," said Emilia Holguin, a stationery store manager.
Mexico City's public transportation network took to disinfecting coins to prevent spread of the virus, which contains DNA typical to avian, swine and human viruses. Humans are especially vulnerable to new viruses against which they have yet to develop defenses.
"It's going to take a long time to return to normality because people are still scared of the disease," said Beatriz Herrera, 35, an assistant at a clothing store where business was slow.