Migrants are Living Heroes / Social Distancing Flattens the Curve

Migrants are living heroes. After reports that remittances sent to Mexico rose 35.7 percent to US$4.02 billion in March compared to the same month last year, President López Obrador thanked migrants for their support despite the COVID-19 pandemic. “They sent almost MX$100 billion in March. We are very grateful to our countrymen. They are living heroes,” he said. The president said that he will respond in kind. “We are going to do the same. Each month, an average of MX$100 billion will be distributed in loans and in support for the poorest,” he said.

Social distancing flattens the curve. Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell said the COVID-19 curve in Mexico has flattened thanks to the effectiveness of social distancing measures. “We have reduced the number of infections by about 60 to 75 percent,” he said. López-Gatell explained that flattening doesn’t mean the curve is actually flat or the epidemic is over, but rather, it shows how a major increase in infections was successfully prevented.

211 ventilators arrive from the US. Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard thanked President Donald Trump’s government for its support after Mexico acquired 211 ventilators. “I can inform you that a FedEx flight has already landed in Toluca with 211 ventilators,” he said. Ebrard highlighted that there were no intermediaries, since the purchase was directly with the manufacturing company. “We want to thank the United States government, especially President Trump,” he said.

Facebook and Twitter to report on bots. President López Obrador said he will request a report from Twitter and Facebook on the use of bots to prevent “artificial storms” created through fake accounts. “We are going to ask Facebook and Twitter for transparency. We will ask them to report on who their clients are and what they are buying,” he said. The president regretted that in other countries those companies must submit similar reports but not in Mexico. He said a plan is being prepared so people have all the information they need to understand bots and who profits from them.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish