504 New Deaths, 5,928 Infections

The Ministry of Health reported 504 deaths from COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll to 59,610. A further 5,928 infections since yesterday were confirmed increasing the national total to 549,734 positive cases.

Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell reported 1,239,133 people have been tested, and 46 percent were positive. He recalled that COVID-19 symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, head and body aching, in addition to loss of smell and taste and diarrhea, which were added among the conditions that could indicate a positive case.

“For example: having rapid breathing which is called tachypnea. Drowsiness and paleness can also indicate some sign, and you should go to the doctor”, López-Gatell said.

Worldwide there are over 22.8 million positive cases and 800,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) data base.

As of Friday, August 21

5,928 new cases (from yesterday)

549,734 confirmed cases nationwide

82,953   under investigation

59,610   deaths

Impact on markets (19.30 hrs)

US Dollar              MX$21.98            (-0.79%)

BMV IPC               38,095.89             (-1.58%)

Dow Jones          27,930.33             (0.69%)

Mexico City stays orange for ninth week

Mexico City Head of Government Claudia Sheinbaum announced the city will remain on an orange traffic light for the ninth straight week, effective from August 24 to 30. Sheinbaum said that although there was an increase in the number of people hospitalized by COVID-19 in recent days, yesterday they decreased once again. The Metropolitan Area (Mexico City and State of Mexico surrounding municipalities) also reports a similar trend of reduction in hospitalizations.

WHO says vaccine is no final solution

WHO head Tedros Ghebreyesus warned that there is no guarantee that the COVID-19 vaccine will exist at some point, and when ready it won’t end the pandemic by itself. “The vaccine would be a vital tool and we hope to have it as soon as possible, but there is no guarantee that we will have it, and even if we do, it will not end the pandemic,” he warned. Ghebreyesus called again on governments to work on learning how to live with the virus.

Peso reports slight weekly increase

The Mexican peso appreciated slightly this week against the US dollar after the exchange rate concluded operations at MX$21.98 units compared to a record of MX$22.02 the previous Friday according to Banxico. The local currency gained 4.10 cents or a 0.19 percent change during the week.

US extends border restriction

The US closed traffic-lanes at some entry points along the border with Mexico and will carry out stricter controls measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official said. The new measures appear to be aimed at US citizens and legal residents living in Mexico, since most of their travelling is considered non essential.

WHO questions Mexico’s low testing

Limited evidence in Mexico means that the COVID-19 pandemic is underrecognized, WHO’s Health Emergencies Program head Michael Ryan has warned. The official said testing remains limited, after conducting only about three tests per 100,000 inhabitants. Ryan explained that many people are being underdiagnosed or diagnosed late, and this especially affects poor and indigenous communities.