Next Group to Be Vaccinated in May/ Vaccination of Teachers

Number of COVID-19 cases has decreased for 14 weeks in a row. Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell highlighted that the country has seen a 14-week reduction in COVID-19 cases, which represents a decline of 83 percent. "The estimated cases fell from 112,415 to 18,953 in these weeks," said López-Gatell. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that the current environment is encouraging and that all states, including Mexico City, are improving their situation. However, López Obrador asked the population to continue taking care of themselves by respecting health measures to avoid new contagions.

Vaccination of educational personnel begins in five more states. López Obrador said that the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination of educational personnel in Aguascalientes, Baja California, Jalisco, Nuevo Leon and Oaxaca is excellent news since it shows the country's progress toward returning to classes. The first states to initiate the vaccination of educational personnel were Campeche, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Coahuila, Nayarit and Chiapas. Delfina Gómez, Head of the Ministry of Public Education, stressed that the vaccinations will be provided to both the public and private sectors. López Obrador added that the latest vaccinations will allow the country "to advance toward normality in economic, social and educational activity. Let's get there."

Vaccination of people between 50 and 59 years old begins in May. Ruy López, General Director of the National Center for Preventive Programs and Disease Control (CENAPRECE), announced that the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to people between 50 and 59 years old would begin in the first week of May. López said that according to INEGI, the group totals 9,728,769 people. He assured that the government is considering everyone in its vaccination plan. López also announced that registration for the application of the first dose will begin tomorrow at https://mivacuna.salud.gob.mx.

US to donate AstraZeneca vaccines to other countries. López Obrador applauded US President Joe Biden's decision to donate 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to countries that do not have the means to buy them. “I am pleased that President Biden has decided to make the vaccine available to other countries, especially those that need it most. His previous policy was to produce vaccines and use them for his citizens and now he has decided to send the vaccines to other countries. As Martha Delgado said: we have enough supply (for the world),” said López Obrador.

AMLO to contact president of Cuba. López Obrador announced that he would contact the president of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, today to thank the country for its help during Mexico’s health emergency. Cuba sent 1,000 doctors and nurses to Mexico to help treat patients with COVID-19. López Obrador explained that Mexico had enough hospitals with infrastructure and resources but that there were not enough doctors and that is where Cuba helped, along with Russia, China, India and the US.

President of Guatemala to visit Mexico next week. López Obrador announced that President of Guatemala Alejandro Giammattei would visit Mexico to discuss migration issues. “Next Monday, the president of Guatemala arrives in Mexico; he will be with us on Tuesday. I have information that he has met with the US vice president to discuss immigration issues, which is something we will also discuss,” said López Obrador.

López Obrador highlighted that one of his proposals to combat climate change and migration is the "Sowing life" program, which involves a reforestation program aimed at providing job opportunities. López Obrador stressed that he maintains communication with the presidents of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala to continue discussing his proposal and added that it will likely also be discussed during the meeting with Giammattei.

Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish