Applauds Walmart / Private Hospitals Agreement Extended
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Applauds Walmart / Private Hospitals Agreement Extended

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Ricardo Guzman By Ricardo Guzman | Editor - Tue, 05/26/2020 - 12:13

Applauds Walmart’s decision. President López Obrador recognized an agreement announced by Walmart to pay the Treasury (SAT) over MX$8.7 billion in pending taxes. “I celebrate and recognize the good behavior of this company, and the fact that they have accepted their debt and that these are different times,” he said. In recent weeks, the president had called on “big companies” that owed over MX$50 billion to SAT to pay their duties or face legal actions. On April 16, he announced that about MX$15 billion had been paid. “It is wise to change your mind, to rectify the situation,” the president stated.

Agreement with private hospitals extended. Public and private hospitals agreed to extend by one month the pact by which all public and private units have joined forces to create one single health system. The agreement, All Together Against COVID-19, implemented the joint effort from April 23 to May 23. “The agreement is going to continue for another month,” Funsalud head Héctor Valle said.

1,666 Mexican deaths in the US. Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard reported that 1,666 Mexicans have died in the US due to COVID-19 and that New York has the largest number, with 676 dead. Ebrard said 32 consulates are working at low capacity and that in the next few days 10 more will be reactivated. The minister reported 13,175 Mexicans have been repatriated so far, mostly from Latin America countries.

Rejects report on fatality rate. President López Obrador rejected reports that Mexico has the highest COVID-19 death rate in Latin America. “To say that Mexico has the highest fatality rate in Latin America is a falsehood,” he said when asked about media reports quoting Johns Hopkins University (JHU) data. The president said corrupt media is behind those reports. According to JHU data, Mexico’s fatality rate is 10.7 percent, well above Ecuador 8 percent and Brazil 6 percent.

Optimistic about travel plans. President López Obrador said he will meet today with the health cabinet to detail the reactivation plan for schools and to receive authorization to travel again, since he is planning to do a one-week tour of five or six states. “It depends on a meeting tonight with the cabinet. Projections will be updated and we will decide on the possibility of returning to classes,” he said. The president said he was optimistic given how Mexico is overcoming the health challenge.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish

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