Infection Record Set for Second Straight Day

Positive cases in Mexico rose for a record amount for the second day after 3,463 positive cases were confirmed in today’s briefing, eight more that yesterday’s report. The Ministry of Health reported 463 confirmed deaths in the last 24 hours bringing the total to 8,597.

After today’s results, Mexico is now eighth in the world for most COVID-19 cases, according toJohns Hopkins University data. The US, Great Britain, Italy, France, Spain, Brazil y Belgium fill the first seven spots.

Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador must resume his agenda because of its importance for the public life of the country, but denied any special treatment for him.

“(The President) does not have an exceptional state of biological protection or specific privileges because he is the head of state,” he said, and stated that a final decision on the matterwill be announced tomorrow.

As of Wednesday, May 27

3,463     new cases (from yesterday)

78,023   confirmed cases nationwide

33,566   under investigation

8,597     deaths

Impact on markets (19.30 hrs)

US Dollar              MX$22.33            (0.41%)

BMV IPC               36,889.96             (1.89%)

Dow Jones          25,548.27             (2.21%)

GDP contraction rises 4.6 to 8.8 percent

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic could generate a contraction in the country's GDP of between 4.6 and 8.8 percent this year and the loss of up to 1,400,000 formal jobs, according to Banxico projections disclosed during the presentation of its 1Q20 2020 report. The governing board of the central bank proposed three scenarios for the behavior of the Mexican economy. In the best scenario of “relatively fast recovery”, Mexico’s GDP will contract 4.6 percent in 2020, but increase 4 percent the next year.

Hydroxychloroquine moves forward

The drug promoted, and allegedly consumed, by President Donald Trump to prevent COVID-19, was included as of today in the National Compendium of Health Supplies (CONIS), which is the new version of the basic drug basket. In Mexico the General Health Council (CSG) agreed to include hydroxychloroquinein a list of medicines against the virus, the same drug was banned in France, Italy and Belgium as an effective treatment due to the health risks it represents.

SEGOB accepts state traffic light

A day after saying state governments should submit to a single federal traffic light for the gradual reopening of activities, Minister of Interior (SEGOB) Olga Sánchez Cordero made a U-turn saying that regional traffic lights, coordinated by the federal Ministry of Health, will be accepted.

Cuzcatlán resumes in Oaxaca

Minera Cuzcatlán announced the restart of operations at its San José, Oaxaca mine after receiving IMSS authorization. The company, located in San José del Progreso, Oaxaca, operates in a very low risk municipality, with only one confirmed case reported to date.

WTTC to certify Quintana Roo

The Quintana Roo government announced that Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean will become the first destinations in The Americas (along with Saudi Arabia, Barcelona, ​​Portugal and Seville) to receive the Global Safety Stamp given by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) to destinations that adopt its standards to ensure the right hygiene conditions and measures to protect the health of travelers.

Campaign for masks on public transport

Mexico City Head of Government Claudia Sheinbaum, reported that a very important campaign is already being prepared on the correct use of masks on public transport, in order to avoid the increase of COVID -19 infections in Mexico City. She stressed that prevention measures in the city’s subway will also be reinforced, such as healthy distancing and avoiding crowds at the entrances.

López-Gatell meets with senators

At a meeting with senator, Deputy Minister of Health López-Gatell said results of the federal strategy to face the COVID-19 pandemic has given the expected results and that he does not regret the social distancing measures.