Mexico City and State of Mexico Report 12,182 Cases

The Ministry of Health reported an increase of 1,609 positive COVID-19 cases and 197 deaths to take the country’s total to 2,704 deaths and 27,634 total positive cases in today’s briefing. Director of Epidemiology José Luis Alomía said Mexico City has reported 7,521 cases so far and State of Mexico 4,661, totaling 12,182 infections in total and marking the metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico as the country’s highest concentration. Baja California’s 2,097 cases place the border state in third place.

Alomía explained that according to the IRAG Network, the occupation of hospital beds occupation has reached 33 percent meaning that 13,594 beds are still free.

As of Wednesday, May 6

1,609     new cases (from yesterday)

27,634   confirmed cases nationwide

17,553   under investigation

2,704     deaths

Impact on markets (19.30 hrs)

US Dollar              MX$24.26            (1.61%)

BMV IPC               36,986.20             (1.01%)

Dow Jones          23,664.64             (-0.91%)

CCE presents 68 ideas to overcome the crisis

The Business Coordinating Council (CCE) presented 68 ideas to face the health crisis, resume economic activity and trigger growth and development. The CCE urged President López Obrador to turn the recommendations into policies to avoid “incalculable damage to public finances”. CCE head Carlos Salazar said the business sector is waiting for the authority to convene a national council for economic recovery in which the council is willing to participate. The 68 ideas are result of 11 rounds of analysis carried out between the main business and industrial chambers.

Mexico City cancel ventilators contracts

Mexico City’s government suspended the purchase of 200 ventilators via directly-awarded contracts. According to the local administration, the equipment would be purchased from two different companies. Lumafesa’s MX$268.5 million contract and Technologies Rennueva’s MX$91.8 million contract were cancelled because the companies did not confirm a delivery date.

Monterrey plan for reactivation

The Municipality of Monterrey proposed a gradual economic reactivation plan to start May 12, for public and private works, industrial activities and restaurants can resume operations at 50 percent of their capacity. Mayor Adrián de la Garza said it is urgent to implement measures to activate part of the economy of this city. He will present a proposal tomorrow to Nuevo Leon authorities.

Economic reopening dependent on case rate

The reopening of industrial operations in Mexico will be decided based on the contagion level of each region, CONCAMIN head Francisco Cervantes said. Labor and health protocols are already being defined with the Ministries of Economy, Labor and Health to reopen production coordinated with large automakers agendas. Cervantes said the federal government is working to support the reopening of supply value chains. “In those regions with fewer cases we are going to try to reopen sooner,” he said.

Tianguis Turistico moves to March 2021

Minister of Tourism Miguel Torruco reported that the 45th edition of the Tianguis Turistico, which was to run in September, is going to be celebrated on March 2021 in the same venue of Mérida, Yucatan. Torruco said the date change was agreed after “long and careful analysis” carried out by the organizing committee and with the consensus of tourism industry leaders.

Mexican crude’s mild drop

The price of the Mexican crude basket the half-week session with a 2.63 percent drop compared to Tuesday, trading at US$21.10 per barrel, according to PEMEX. After a major recovery early in the week, today’s mild drop was in line with that of other international benchmarks, ending a five-day positive streak.