Masks No Longer Mandatory in Mexico

Despite opposition from national doctors, the government opens more medical positions for foreign doctors. Meanwhile, sanitary measure like the use of masks in closed places are dropped as COVID-19 cases ease up. Yet, experts warn that the COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected the mental health of young people.

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Government Offers Medical Positions to Foreign Doctors

IMSS Director Zoé Robledo announced that the government is looking to hire 749 foreign doctors to work in 13 states. “We are launching a call for specialists from other parts of the world who are interested in working in Mexico for a year. Mexican doctors can also participate in this initiative.” Specialists will be appointed in Sonora, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Nayarit, Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Campeche, Veracruz, Tlaxcala, Hidalgo, Zacatecas and Chihuahua. To apply, doctors must present a valid passport, their degree and specialty certificate, CV, an employer’s recommendation letter and proof of proficiency in Spanish.

Masks Are No Longer Mandatory

Falling COVID-19 cases and advances in vaccination programs have led to an update in health mandates. Face masks will no longer be mandatory in closed spaces where there people maintain a healthy distance, employees will not require COVID-19 tests to return to work, vaccination will not be mandatory and disinfectant mats will be removed. Specialists expect more flu cases this year, however, as the population starts going out more and meeting people without masks to protect themselves from respiratory viruses.

COVID-19: Bane to Young People’s Mental Health

María Elena Medina, Director of the UNAM School of Psychology, explained that the pandemic affected everyone's mental health but especially that of young people. Medina stressed that currently, people between 15 and 29 years of age are the ones with the highest risk of substance addiction, self-harm and suicide. The problem in Mexico is serious as, on average, it takes around 14 years for a person with depression to receive treatment. Moreover, 70 percent of patients receive inadequate treatment.

Mexican Strategy to Fight Monkeypox Is Insufficient

Experts highlighted that even though Mexico ranks ninth among the countries with the highest number of reported monkeypox cases and infections, with an increase of 149 percent between September and October, authorities are still analyzing whether to acquire vaccines. There is already a vaccine but it has not been authorized by COFEPRIS, so it cannot be marketed in Mexico.

Mexico Issues Cholera Alert

The Ministry of Health issued an epidemiological notice for cholera after an outbreak in Haiti. The government called on all medical units to be on the lookout for symptoms in people who have traveled. Since 2019, no cases of cholera have been reported in Mexico. However, authorities explained that the majority of infected people do not show symptoms, which makes cholera easier to spread.