Serious Measures in Mexico Coming to Light

With a couple days away from Phase 3, Mexico has announced the extension of the National Social-distancing Program to May 30 or May 17 for the least affected regions of the country.

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COVID-19 in Mexico

Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell said that the lockdown and cease of non-essential economic activities will extend to May 30. There are 979 municipalities in the country that will be able to resume activities by May 17. He also mentioned that the highest peak of contagion is expected between May 8 and May 10.

The General Health Council has announced a Bioethical Guide for the COVID-19 outbreak in Mexico. The action inspired a tough reaction from the media and general public as it was considered to be announced too soon, which would only create panic among the population. After the polemic caused by its release, the council announced that it was a draft and was not yet approved. UNAM was very vocal about its rejection toward the document.

Sofia Belmar, President of AMIS, revealed that 229 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have a medical insurance, which has meant a MX$347,000 (US$14,500) payment from insurers for each of them. She said that a total amount of MX$79.6 million (US$3.3 million) has been claimed, of which MX$10 million (US$420,000) have been paid so far. That is only 12.5 percent ​​of what was claimed.

Sanfer laboratories launched a supply order to address the shortage of chloroquine that occurred due to panic purchases in early March. The Director General of Sanfer said this will be available for digital purchase and that the stock is aimed at specialist doctors so that, through them and in an orderly and confirmed way, patients with medical prescription and justified diagnosis can acquire Aralen (the commercial name of the drug) in a simple and safe way.

WTO foresees the worst GPD drop will be in Mexico. According to its prediction, the country will have a 6.6 percent drop directly directed to COVID-19. Minister of Economy Graciela Márquez has said this is a complex panorama, presented at a times where Mexico was expected to grow.

The Confederation of Workers of Mexico in Puebla has announced that the automotive, food and petrochemical sector will pay workers PTU in advance. Payment was usually given by the end of the month, but measures were taken to reduce the economic impact of COVID-19.

Due to isolation measures, the use of mobile data has reduced by 15 percent. Unlike the fixed internet network, which expects at least 11 percent growth as 54 percent of the Mexican population has effectively isolated at their homes.

Mexico City has an un employment insurance fund that allows citizens to apply for economic support. Due to the COVID-19 damages, there has been a 40 percent growth in the number of requests for support. This applies only for workers in the formal sector and it gives the worker the opportunity to be linked to other job opportunities.

Zoe Robledo, head of IMSS, detailed that SMEs that have their workers properly registered on the institute and that have kept their workers' salaries for the last three months can apply for a MX$25,000 (US$1,000) credit.

After the death of the president of the BMV, Jaime Ruiz Sacristán, the institution is already revising candidates to fill the role and direct the stock market at this time of high global volatility

Michoacan has announced a 60 percent increase on salaries for the medical staff facing COVID-19.

In Puebla, the governor has already declared Phase 3 while the state faces a very poor action program to contain contagion.

Sadly, harassment, violence and discrimination toward medical staff continues in Mexico. López-Gatell has strongly disapproved these unfortunate actions to people that are sacrificing their own well-being to attend and save others.

COVID-19 in the World

President Trump announced the suspension of the US funding to WHO due to its “severe mismanagement of its COVID-19 response.”

Wuhan, where COVID-19 first originated, has lifted quarantine and is now resuming normal activities. While there are still many limitations, the flow of people on the streets is starting to increase.

In the middle of a sanitary crisis, the president of Brazil fires his minister of health due to several disagreements while handling the crisis.

In Africa, two Ebola deaths were recorded this week. While the Democratic Republic of Congo was ready to announce the end of the disease, this situation has changed plans.