Mexico’s “New Normal,” According to the 4T
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Mexico’s “New Normal,” According to the 4T

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Miriam Bello By Miriam Bello | Senior Journalist and Industry Analyst - Thu, 05/14/2020 - 14:17

The Mexican industry has waited for the government to release a clear plan of action against the pandemic, which has led many sectors to create plans of their own to support themselves and their whole industry. This week, the government came out with a “new normal” reopening plan that was critiqued for its lack of in-depth explanation and for the absence of serious actions from the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit. On the other hand, the healthcare industry keeps on pushing clinical trials and scientific research to find a cure for COVID-19.

In case you missed it, here’s the Week in Health!

NATIONAL

The Mexican government has announced the reopening plan to enter the “new normal.” Industrial activities, classes, services, shops and corporations will be assigned a color to know when it is safe to resume their activities.

  • The first stage of the reactivation plan is expected to begin on May 18 with the restart of school and labor activities on public spaces in Municipios de la Esperanza (municipalities of hope) where there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19.
  • The second stage will be from May 18 to May 31, when construction, mining activities and automotive manufacturing will reopen.
  • The third stage begins on June 1. During this stage, municipalities will be assigned a color (red, orange, yellow and green) which will be updated weekly to determine when and where it is safe to resume activities.

Mexico is participating in the clinical trials on medicines that could serve has an effective treatment against COVID-19. This study has been going on for around a month and COFEPRIS has said that while it is too soon to deliver results, possible treatments are already being tested on five Mexican hospitals to track the results.

Plan DN-III, which had a goal to send the armed forces to support medical facilities during the pandemic, is being highly critiqued by experts on national security as a way to militarize the country rather than to help during the pandemic.

A study made by the University of Washington predicts that Mexico is among the Latin American counties that might have an extended peak of contagion, seeing the end of it by June 7. The study analyzes Mexican hospital infrastructure, detailing its current state and the possible outcome of states that have more COVID-19 cases.

Expenses from states derived from the pandemic have not been detailed so far. According to the Mexican ONGs U-Trac and Tojil, Mexico City is the only state making public declarations regarding expenses generated from the pandemic.

AMIS announces an agreement with the federal government to provide a MX$50,000 (US$2,072) free life insurance to health personnel fighting against COVID-19, including doctors, residents, nurses, nursing interns, nursing assistants, staff and technicians, stretcher-bearers, medicine students and volunteers.

2020 was declared to be the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. During the announcement, WHO declared that at least 100,000 medical workers have been infected by COVID-19. In Mexico, at least 25 percent of the cases are from healthcare workers.

Polemic on medical equipment supplied by Leon Bartlett, son of Manuel Bartlett, continues as IMSS recently declared that the equipment did not comply with the correct characteristics and requirements, causing the return of the devices.

INTERNATIONAL

WHO has encouraged the whole community to check on mental health during this sanitary emergency. The general director of the organization said it is urgent to improve investment on mental health services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ILO has exposed that around 55 percent of the global population lack social security or support during unemployment. This could potentially damage the reopening plans globally due to the economic impact that many sectors will suffer.

Controversy arises regarding Sanofi’s possible cure as it has been suggested that the US might receive the vaccine before France. The US was the first on funding the project of the French company. The president of France has already scheduled a meeting with Sanofi’s Executive Officer Paul Hudson.

G20 urged the logistics sector to reactivate and join efforts to prioritize mobility and commercial flows by today May 14, if possible, to avoid further disruption in supply chains, guarantee global supply and secure jobs. Additionally, the group encouraged ease on logistic transportation processes and flexibility of transport, suggesting the use of commercial planes for cargo material when possible.

Japan lifted their state of emergency in most of the island but still, the government has travel restrictions on countries that are yet facing their peak of contagion, such as Mexico.

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