6,741 New Cases Marks Highest Daily Increase

Ministry of Health reported Mexico’s highest daily increase of COVID-19 cases with new 6,741 confirmations, bringing the total to  238,511 nationwide, of which 25,565 are active cases, or patients with symptoms in the last 14 days.

Director of Epidemiology José Luis Alomía also reported 679 new deaths in the daily report with total deaths now standing at 29,189. A further 2,185 suspicious deaths are still waiting for laboratory results.

Mexico City tops the state infections list with 49,573 confirmed cases and also has the highest number of deaths. The State of Mexico is second in both categories totaling 35,631 positive cases. Tabasco is third place with 11,165 cases, while Baja California has the third highest death rate.

Alomía reported that 45 percent of general beds are occupied nationwide and that Tabasco registers the maximum hospital occupation with 70 percent.

As of Thursday, July 2

6,741     new cases (from yesterday)

238,511 confirmed cases nationwide

76,423   under investigation

29,189   deaths

Impact on markets (19.30 hrs)

US Dollar              MX$22.47            (-1.39%)

BMV IPC               37,894.08             (0.73%)

Dow Jones          25,827.36             (0.36%)

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BRP announced US$136 million plant

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) announced a US$136 million investment in Mexico, the first of the USMCA trade treaty. “BRP made the first investment announcement in Mexico in the USMCA era. They will build an assembly plant in Ciudad Juárez for the production of 4-wheel vehicles, expected to generate at least 1,000 permanent jobs,” the Ministry of Economy published on Twitter. In a statement, BRP CEO José Boisjoli said that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, demand has remained strong and even exceeded last year's figures for the same period.

500,000 companies will close

ECLAC estimated that as a result of the COVID-19 crisis around 500,000 formal companies will close permanently in Mexico. “Sectors most affected will be retail-wholesale, tourism and manufacturing,” said the UN office’s head Alicia Bárcena.

Business sector snubbed

For the first time the business sector was not invited to a signing ceremony of a trade agreement, CCE Carlos Salazar head lamented. “We have accompanied authorities for so many years in achieving treaties,” he said. Salazar noted that the USMCA trade treaty will drive investment in Mexico, but like any investment process, certainty is needed.

Cases spike in the US

The COVID-19 infection curve is increasing in 40 out of 50 US entities, which yesterday recorded over 50,000 new cases nationwide in one day. According the media reports the most severe outbreaks are in Arizona, Texas and Florida, which along with California have pushed back reopening bars, restaurants and cinemas. In Texas the mandatory use of masks was announced.

Cuernavaca pulls back reopening

Cuernavaca mayor Antonio Villalobos said that his government will comply with the determination of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), which yesterday invalidated the authorization of the council to allow the resumption of economic activities in Morelos’ capital city.

Curfews by criminal groups

Taking advantage of the health contingency, organized crime groups have enforced curfews and even tax collections, according to a report by the Ministry of the Interior (Segob). The agency detailed that in April curfews were carried out in Iguala, Guerrero, as well as in Culiacan and Los Mochis, in Sinaloa.