New Traffic Light Agreed with Governors

The Ministry of Health reported 707 deaths in the last 24 hours from COVID-19 bringing the total to 58,481. A further 5,792 infections since yesterday were confirmed, increasing the national total to 537,031 positive cases. There are 40,176 estimated active cases reported and 367,537 patients have recovered from the virus.

During today’s briefing, Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell said that the modifications agreed on the epidemiological traffic light announced earlier today were based on the proposals of all 32 governors and that six indicators were added.

“The epidemiological traffic light is being reinforced with the help of mathematicians, who have added very useful indicators on the epidemic intensity. The dimension of mortality was integrated, allowing new assessments on occurrence, response capacity and consequence,” he explained.

As of Wednesday, August 19

5,792 new cases (from yesterday)

537,031 confirmed cases nationwide

82,884   under investigation

58,481   deaths

Impact on markets (19.30 hrs)

US Dollar              MX$22.05            (-0.58%)

BMV IPC               39,021.92             (-0.17%)

Dow Jones          27,692.88             (-0.31%)

Agreement with CONAGO

The National Conference of Governors (CONAGO) and the federal government reached an agreement on changes to the COVID-19 epidemiological traffic light. “A consensus was reached between state governments and the federal government regarding the operation of the epidemic traffic light guidelines,” San Luis Potosi Gov. and CONAGO head Juan Manuel Carreras said after today’s summit. Carreras stressed the relevance of the agreement after a group of governors called for Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell to be demoted, arguing that the  federal administration’s  handling of the pandemic had been inadequate.

COFEPRIS is demoted

The Sanitary Risks Commission (COFEPRIS) will be demoted at the directorate level and from now will report to Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell. According to a decree that also authorizes the termination of the Integration and Development Undersecretary in the Ministry of Health López Gatell will have now have total control over 13 health offices. COPEFRIS was created on July 2001 by former President Vicente Fox.

MX$1.5 trillion reactivation proposal

Michoacán Gov. Silvano Aureoles said that the Federalist Alliance is proposing that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador allocate MX$1.5 trillion (US$68 billion) and thus launch the comprehensive national strategy for economic reactivation. The measure aims to apply a comprehensive investment plan prioritizing infrastructure works in each state, agreeing on the greatest possible participation of local companies. Regarding the fiscal agreement reached with governors today in San Luis Potosi, the federal government offered help to state leaders to restructure state debts through development bank loans. A national tax convention was also agreed.

America stands out in epidemic

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there are 22.3 million cases of COVID-19 in the world, and in 213,391 new cases were reported last Tuesday. The number of deaths nears 790,000 worldwide. America reports more than half of confirmed cases globally and near 75 percent of deaths.

Mexico willing to join Sputnik V vaccine project

Mexico is interested in  hosting the Phase 3 trials of the Russian vaccine against COVID-19 with the intention of having it as soon as possible, Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard said. The Chancellor reported on his Twitter account that he had held a meeting with the Russian Ambassador,  Viktor Koronelli. “We are talking about the Sputnik V vaccine,” Ebrard wrote.

Volaris aims for 75 percent recovery for September

As part of its reactivation plan in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, in September the low-cost airline Volaris will recover 75 percent in its installed capacity (measured in occupied seats). In a statement the company said that it has gradually increased flights, since last May it only worked at 11 percent of its capacity.