Cases Could Reach 26,519 According to New Estimation

According to the Sentinel Model, positive cases of COVID-19 among the population are likely to be eight times greater than what being seen. Thus the 3,181 total confirmed cases reported in today’s daily briefing could in reality be 26,519 cases, Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell said.

After explaining that despite the increase of cases neither the emergency phase or the contingency plan need to change, López-Gatell highlighted the effectiveness of the Sentinel Model given that “it shows how the epidemic behaves, and what decisions have to be made according to reality”.

Regarding sanitation tunnels used in some states, López-Gattel explained that they represent a health risk because, if they are not operated properly, people may experience respiratory irritation, which can lead to a spread of the virus.

Thirty-three patients died and 396 more confirmed cases were reported today, Director of Epidemiology José Luis Alomía said. Of the 29,578 people tested during the contingency 17,000 have been discharged.

As of Wednesday, April 8

396         new cases (from yesterday)

3,181     confirmed cases nationwide

9,188     under investigation

174         deaths

Impact on markets (19.30 hrs)

US Dollar              MX$24.09            (0.22%)

BMV IPC               34,567.78             (0.12%)

Dow Jones          23,433.57             (0.03%)

Constellation Brands trims operations

Constellation Brands will reduce the operation of its two beer plants in the country due to the health contingency, the company has reported. “We are taking these additional measures after the response of the Mexican government to this health and economic crisis became clear,” the CEO of the beer company Bill Newlands said.

Governors and cabinet meet virtually

For the second day in a row, cabinet members and governors had a virtual meeting to discuss the COVID-19 contingency plan. Aguascalientes, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, State of Mexico, Morelos, Nayarit, Puebla, Querétaro, Tlaxcala and Mexico City governors attended the meeting. On the cabinet’s side participated the Ministries of Interior, Foreign Affairs, Security and Citizen Protection, Defense, Navy and Health. According to the agenda, the discussed topics included state operation centers, COVID-19 detection tests, restriction of activities and containment plans, and institutional coordination.

CAMEXA members will reduce workforce

At least 39 percent of the members of the Mexican-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CAMEXA) will reduce their workforce in Mexico in the face of the imminent economic decline caused by the COVID-19 crisis, the agency has reported. “The Government of Mexico is urged to consider the application of proven instruments such as fiscal stimuli and the creation of support packages with the aim to protect productive plants and employment, thus following the example of other industrialized countries in the world,” CAMEXA stated.

Deceased Mexicans in the US

The network of Mexican consulates in the US reported 108 cases of Mexicans who have died of COVID-19. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) highlighted that these cases sere reported to the 50 diplomatic representations that Mexico has in the US. Today 11 million Mexicans live in the US, of which 5 million are undocumented.

Toyota postpones reactivation

For the third time in the face of the health emergency, Toyota announced a further postponement of its resumption of operations in its automobile and component manufacturing plants in North America, which now will be closed 14 more days until May 1. Manufacturing plants will resume production on May 4, 2020, with plants based in Mexico included in the plan. “Due to the current scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as in response to the fall in demand for vehicles, Toyota extends the suspension,” the company reported. Parts, distribution centers and vehicle logistics centers will continue to operate.

More laboratories will do tests

Grupo Diagnostico Aries, Grupo Diagnostico Médico Proa (El Chopo), Orthin Specialized Reference, Unit of Clinical Pathology, Clinical Laboratories of Puebla (Clínica Ruiz), Salud Digna, Laboratorio Juárez, Corporate Group Biochemistry Siglo XXI, LSG Clinicos Mexicali and LANS Reference Laboratories joined the list of private laboratories validated to perform COVID-19 diagnostic tests, after being approved by the Institute of Epidemiological Diagnosis and Reference (InDRE). Now, the total number of laboratories and hospitals authorized to preform tests had reached 18.