Mexico’s COVID-19 Cases Increase, but No Alert Situation: Government Czar

Yes, Mexico is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases, but in the words of Hugo López-Gatell, the government’s ‘czar’ for managing the pandemic, this does not represent an alert situation.

Data from the Ministry of Health (compiled by Conacyt) showed an increase in the four weeks of June. Until the 24th of that month, the authorities recorded 7,633,355 positive cases of COVID-19 in Mexico, which implies 8,128 new cases compared to the 7,625,227 that were reported on June 1.

In addition to this, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) alerted for what it considered as “a community circulation” of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the disease known as COVID-19.

The highest house of studies stressed, however, that the indicators of hospitalizations, deaths and viral variants “remain without changes to highlight.”

“It is important not to exaggerate, not to exaggerate the concern of something that the university presents. We agree with your assessments,” said López-Gatell on Tuesday, who pointed out that the cases that are increasing are those that do not require the hospitalization of those infected.

The importance of the COVID vaccine

The Undersecretary of Health did stress that the people who are being hospitalized for COVID-19 cases are mostly those who have not completed the vaccination scheme.

Data from the Government of Mexico show that hospitalization for COVID cases is 2 percent in all health systems; the occupancy of intensive care beds is below 0.5 percent, and the IMSS currently only has 19 people hospitalized for contagion of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the official said.

“There is no alert situation. It is part of the variability that the endemic circulation of the virus can have. In other countries like the US, these changes have manifested themselves. It is known that there is an epidemiological coupling, that is, a relationship between what happens in the US and in Mexico for reasons of people’s mobility, ”she added.

And what about the use of face masks?

In its statement on Monday, UNAM also recommended returning to the use of face masks in closed spaces as a preventive measure against COVID-19.

In this regard, López-Gatell responded that for now the position of the federal government is not to call for the massive use of face masks, this to avoid “fatigue” in the population.

But how is that? The Undersecretary of Health recalled that the forecast of the health authorities is that Mexico will experience a new wave of COVID-19 infections with the arrival of the cold weather season, which runs from October to March.

López-Gatell added that by avoiding making a call now for the use of face masks, it increases the possibility that Mexicans will use it during the cold season, when it is necessary.

The undersecretary also mentioned that the Government of Mexico will prepare a campaign to apply COVID vaccine reinforcements for vulnerable groups, that is, older adults; with chronic diseases, and pregnant women.

2023-08-01 16:51:00
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