Respects Decision on CONAGO / No Coercion in COVID-19 Fight
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Respects Decision on CONAGO / No Coercion in COVID-19 Fight

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Ricardo Guzman By Ricardo Guzman | Editor - Tue, 09/08/2020 - 10:56

Nothing strange in governors’ decision. President López Obrador said there is nothing to worry about regarding the departure of 10 governors from the National Conference of Governors (CONAGO) because everyone has the freedom of choice. “We are free, I don't see anything strange. I think it is an association of governors and it is not mandatory. Those who leave are exercising their right, their freedom,” he said. After an ongoing dispute between non-Monera governors and the federal administration, governors who created the Federalist Alliance for Mexico announced their decision yesterday, criticizing the federal government’s budget allocation strategy. “This is a democracy. It is good that there are different points of view,” López Obrador noted.

No coercion in Mexico. Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell said Mexico managed to reduce mobility in the face of COVID-19 like some European countries but without using coercive measures. “We are proud that we achieved a reduction in mobility similar to other countries that repressed their population,” he said. López-Gatell recalled that today marks 101 days since Mexico entered the new normal, after the initial isolation strategy officially ended, and noted that Mexico has always had enough beds and healthcare staff to care for patients and deal with the pandemic. The official said Colima is the only state still under red, according to the epidemiological traffic light.

Number of cases falling. President López Obrador reiterated that the number of COVID-19 deaths and infections in Mexico has decreased. “We are in a better situation despite the tragedy of this pandemic. We are seeing the numbers go down and we have no reports of a resurgence,” he said. The president said Mexico is moving forward “despite all the pain,” and he expects the country to fully return to normal soon.

Nearly 64 percent of plane tickets sold. The National Lottery has already sold over 3.8 million tickets for the so-called presidential plane raffle, which is 63.58 percent of all tickets, National Lottery (LOTENAL) head Ernesto Prieto said. “As of yesterday, more than MX$ 1.9 billion (US$870 million) tickets have been sold, equivalent to 63.58 percent of the total available. These last days were very good for the raffle,” he said. Reports of poor sales for the lottery to be carried out on Tuesday, Sept. 15, forced a massive effort to promote sales.

Mexico will participate in US treatment trials. Mexico will participate in Phase 3 of a treatment against COVID-19 developed in the US, Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard reported. He said that during President López Obrador’s visit to Washington in July it was agreed that Mexico would be included in the Warp Speed ​​operation, an initiative to accelerate treatments and vaccines against the new virus. Ebrard said Mexico has repatriated more than 17,393 Mexicans stranded abroad due to the pandemic, mostly from Latin American and European countries, and confirmed that all Mexican consulates in the US are operational.

Massive health staff training. Over 86,000 health workers have been trained to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, Welfare Institute (Insabi) Medical Coordinator Alejandro Svarch said. “Beginning April 1, we have embarked on an intense training program and training of multidisciplinary teams that has made it possible to attend to patients,” Svarch noted.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish

Photo by:   Presidencia de la República

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