New Normal Begins But COVID-19 Contagion Prevails

Lockdowns and restrictions have started to ease, mainly in Europe, making the “new normal” seem closer for Mexico. This week, however, the end of the social distancing program and several protests have made contagion containment a concern for healthcare authorities.

Here is the Week in Health!

NATIONAL

-Director General of IMSS tested positive to COVID-19 on Monday, according to an announcement on his Twitter account.

-The Mexican Valley surpasses COVID-19 contagion peak prediction, indicating that the contagion curve has not gone down for 18 days. Deputy Minister of Health is optimistic, however, saying this does not indicate an upward trend.

-This Saturday, the social-distancing program Jornada Nacional de Sana Distancia ends in Mexico. Deputy Minister Hugo López-Gatell explains that the smartest step to take right now is to implement regional programs to tackle COVID-19 depending on the state. With personalized strategies, each state can determine what suits them better to reactivate the economy and protect their citizens.

-A group of Mexican scientists propose the use of Sofosbuvir as a possible treatment for COVID-19. The drug is used to treat hepatitis C but during a study, they concluded that the molecules of Sofosbuvir could stop the virus from multiplying. The head of the study said that this method is commonly used for cancer cells, which is why they tried it for SARS-CoV-2 virus finding encouraging results.

INTERNATIONAL

-PAHO warns Latin America about June being critical to flatten the contagion curve. Authorities urge to flatten the contagion before winter, as the season comes with high prevalence of flu and with hurricanes in the case of the Caribbean.

-In Brazil, figures of COVID-19 cases and deaths increase as the outbreak in the country worsens. Brazil’s response to the virus has been rather polemic since the beginning of the pandemic as President Jair Bolsonaro has disregarded the dangers of the virus, while later ordering mass production of hydrochloroquine to use as a treatment against the virus.

-Moderna Therapeutics has announced its first test on a COVID-19 vaccine scheduled for July when they would determine its efficiency to provide protection against the coronavirus. There are 30,000 people contemplated for this mass testing. This vaccine has gone through previous smaller trials, the first in March with 45 people and later 300 people.

-New Delhi lifted some COVID-19 restrictions over the previous weeks resulting in rising contagion rates. According to India’s public health entities, the city is already overwhelmed and still expecting its peak of contagion. The COVID-19 outbreak in India began back in January with Mumbai being the epicenter for the pandemic. When restrictions in New Delhi lifted, the virus quickly spread.

-The US has reported a second COVID-19 contagion wave. Texas, Florida and California have reported the highest cases of contagion since the pandemic hit the US. A senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security has said that this second wave is “small and is distant so far, but it is coming.”

-In Australia, just as in other parts of the world, Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests have generated concerns regarding COVID-19 contagion. The country registered one positive case of a person attending one of the protests. Protest are also happening in Mexico, some supporting the BLM movement and others against police aggressions, mainly in cities with the highest risk of contagion such as Mexico City and Guadalajara.