In an ironic turn of events, Mexicans in the border state of Sonora are urging their government to close its border with the US to prevent Americans from bringing Covid-19 into their country.

Mexican protesters have shut a US southern border crossing amid fears that untested American travellers will spread coronavirus.

Residents in Sonora, south of the US state of Arizona, have promised to block traffic into Mexico for a second day after closing a checkpoint for hours on Wednesday.

They wore face masks and held signs telling Americans to “stay at home”.

Mexico has fewer than 500 confirmed Covid-19 cases and the US over 65,000.

The border is supposed to be closed to all except “essential” business, but protesters said there has been little enforcement and no testing by authorities.

The blockade was led by members of the group Sonorans for Health and Life, who called for medical testing to be done on anyone who crosses from the US into Mexico.

If this push to keep Americans out of Mexico becomes widespread in that country, who knows, Trump’s campaign promise to have Mexico build the wall might yet come true.