404,667 Patients Have Recovered So Far

The Ministry of Health reported 552 new deaths from COVID-19 and an accumulated total of 63,146. A further 5,824 new positives cases since yesterday raised the national total to 585,738. Over 650,862 patients have tested negative to the virus so far, while 404,667 have recovered.

During today’s briefing, Health Promotion head Ricardo Cortés reported that there are 83,357 suspected cases waiting for laboratory results and that a decrease in confirmed cases is still being observed, albeit very slight. "We have an increase in the number of suspected cases. However, we continue to observe a slight decrease in confirmed cases,” he said.

ISSSTE head Luis Antonio Ramírez Pineda said the institute has a deficit of health professionals, a situation that has worsened after employees were sent home for being among the most vulnerable to the virus.

As of Friday, August 28

5,824 new cases (since yesterday)

585,738 confirmed cases nationwide

83,357 under investigation

63,146 deaths

Impact on Markets (19.30 hrs)

US Dollar              MX$21.80            (-1.36%)

BMV IPC               37,794.25             (0.39%)

Dow Jones          28,653.87             (0.57%)

Mexico Secures Access to 18 Vaccines

Mexico will have access to 18 ongoing COVID-19 vaccines projects through the Covax program, Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard said. “When there is a confirmation that a vaccine works, then Covax makes them available to supply between 10 and 20 percent of the needs of each country,” he explained. The Chancellor said that the Mexican government is holding bilateral talks regarding a vaccine with China, England, France, Italy, Russia, Germany and the US.

Mexico City Adds 10 Weeks in Orange

The following week, Mexico City will remain orange in the epidemiological traffic light “but with an alert,” Head of Government Claudia Sheinbaum reported. In her daily briefing, Sheinbaum explained that despite a sustained downward trend in hospitalizations, a mild increase was reported lately. Mexico’s capital city will remain in orange for the 10th straight week, effective from Aug. 30 to Sept. 5.

Guerrero, Second State in Yellow

Guerrero will move to yellow in the epidemiological traffic light starting next Monday, Gov. Héctor Astudillo said. He noted that several activities will resume and while night clubs are still under discussion. This is the second state to reach the yellow light, along with Campeche.

Peso Ends Week With Gains

The end of the week brought some fresh air to the peso, recovering from yesterday’s losses as the greenback weakened in today’s trading. The Mexican currency registered its third consecutive week of advances after appreciating 0.819 percent over the last five days, settling at MX$21.80, according to Banxico. In today's session, the peso appreciated 1.35 percent.

Merkel Warns of ‘Difficult Season’

In the coming months, the COVID-19 pandemic could get worse so people must act accordingly, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned. “We have to expect that some things will be even more difficult in the coming months than in summer,” she said during her traditional briefing and noted that the health emergency “is as serious as it ever was.”

WHO Raises Awareness on Mental Health
Anxiety and fear are rising among people under social confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic and there is a risk that mental health services could be disrupted, WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned. “For many people, the lack of social interaction caused by the pandemic has had a profound effect on their mental health,” the official said in his daily briefing.