In 2009, a mutation of the influenza virus put the country in check. The government received criticism for late warning of the outbreak.
Mexico – Feb. 28, 2020 – El Pais– Just over 10 years ago, Mexico suffered an epidemic due to a mutation of the influenza virus. At the end of April 2009, the government, then commanded by Felipe Calderón, recognized 20 dead, the majority in Mexico City. An unusual increase in mortality was caused by the influenza. Immediately, the Executive suspended classes in the capital and the State of Mexico. The United States, Spain and other countries issued alerts to travelers planning to visit Mexico, and a few days later, on April 23, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that there was a risk of a pandemic. Finally, the contagion stopped. Just over 1,000 people died and more than 70,000 were infected. But Mexico got used to wearing face masks and washing their hands with antibacterial gel from time to time, lessons that will be useful today.
Knowing the crisis, Calderón gave a message to the country informing of the measures taken by his government, emphasizing prevention, and especially noting the value of the use of the face masks. “We have also recommended cleaning the bathroom, keys, door handles, railings, and telephones, with soap and water, particularly in public places,” said the president. The core of the executive’s strategy was precisely the campaign to try to contain the infections. Radio spots and television commercials continually explained how to sneeze — into the opposite part of the elbow, not into the hand; how to wash your hands, or how many times the same tissue should be used. In his message to the population, Calderón went to great lengths to show that Mexico’s response to the virus mutation could not have been better.
Doubts about the government’s transparency arose, however, almost from the beginning, as did criticism of the slow detection of the virus. Before the end of April, the director of the French National Institute for Health Surveillance, Françoise Weber, said that “the epidemic circulated in Mexico for weeks and was only detected when the most serious cases and deaths came.” On this occasion, the response of the López Obrador government has been swift. At the first suspicion that occurred in late January, screening tests were activated in the State of Tamaulipas against a teacher who had traveled to his country of origin, China. Other cases were evaluated, but all were negative. The Executive has called press conferences every day at nine o’clock at night to report promptly —unlike what happened with the H1N1 virus in 2009.
In those days, Professor Guan Yi, an epidemiologist and key figure in the battle against other pandemic viruses, said in an interview with the Mexican newspaper Reforma: “The Mexican Government could have done better to stop the outbreak. In the initial phase they may not have been aware of what was happening. But in a second phase, when there were already several deaths, the authorities did not inform the WHO or the rest of the countries in time.” For days, Mexico City looked deserted. Calderón himself asked the population not to leave the house during the period that went from May 1 to 5. “There is no safer place to avoid getting the virus,” he argued. At times, the situation took on a surreal tone. A chronicle of the time published by the AP agency on May 1 recalls those days: “Televisa eliminates the ‘nonessential’ kisses from its soap operas. A song titled ‘Influenza Cumbia’ climbs the popularity charts (…) The masks that millions have worn have become canvases for creativity: some decorate them by painting monkey mouths, big mustaches or full lips. Newspapers feature cutout smiley faces and some drivers have even created masks for their cars. The masks of some pets match those of their owners.”
CLINTON CANUL LUNA’S NOTE:
Based on the above experience, Mexico prepared itself for any future virus outbreak. Today, their health institutions such as the IMSS, ISSSTE, and Sedena hospitals throughout the country have each allocated 600 beds in a specific area of the building which would not affect other patients. The health specialists, such as doctors, are well-trained to withstand an epidemic, thus enabling them to allow cruise ships to arrive at their ports with persons infected with coronavirus who are, or were, treated until recovery. Thereafter, once released, those persons went back to their country of origin by flight. In Mexico, persons who are infected with the virus are not sent to their homes for isolation, because it would surely affect the entire family. Instead, the patient (s) are hospitalized and secluded in a specific place which is assigned for such purpose.
Below is a speech made by the governor of Quintana Roo, Carlos Joaquin, in Cancun about the COVID-19 on April, 3, 2020. It was published on YouTube by Coordinacion General de Comunicacion QR:
Friends, on March 31, the declaration of sanitary emergency came into force throughout the country. Its objective is to get Mexicans to stay at home to decrease the speed of contagion of the coronavirus. One must stay home, and that is precisely what I want to talk about. I know that it is not easy for anyone to be home for a long time. There are many questions that arise and multiple needs to address. For everyone to stay home and prevent the virus from spreading quickly, there has to be family peace of mind. That is the goal, family tranquility, but together we must continue to team up. For you to stay at home, the government of state will be there in your home collaborating in maintaining tolerance and tranquility.
Therefore, we have a strategy of five actions, which are:
(1) To keep you at home, the government will be with you so that you can have water. There will be no cuts or immediate charges, “AGUAKAN and CAPA” will give exemptions, discounts or deferred payments to all of those households that are most in need according to their consumption. We will monitor to ensure that the supply is adequate, and will serve more than 500,000 households throughout Quintana Roo.
(2). So that you stay at home, the government will be with you so that you have electricity. We will be vigilant, so that they do not cut off the service to anyone, we will continue to insist that the collection be deferred to those who cannot pay, and as an extraordinary support the government of state will sign an agreement with the Federal Electricity Commission, to pay half of the bi-monthly bill for more than 467 thousand homes to maintain consumption. These customers are those who reach up to 250 kilowatt hours per month. They represent almost 68 percent of the users in the state.
(3). To keep you at home, the government will be with you so that together we pay for gas. We have agreed with the gas companies to maintain the supply at appropriate times for the well-being of the population, and we also remember to support the 400,000 who need it most, the 400,000 most needy families, with vouchers for 4 kilos of gas in April.
(4). For you to stay at home, the government will be with you so that there is food on the family table. To maintain the general supply we have agreed with supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, water bottlers and tortillerías, to keep operating with adequate services and also with home delivery. For those living in poverty, in coordination with the presidents and municipal presidents, we will deliver food house by house. Those who have lost their jobs or have seen their income decrease will also be a priority. We are talking about more than 500 thousand households in the entire state; and
(5). the government will be with you at home to take care of the health of the whole family. To take care of your physical health, the medical programs at your home, the health caravans and the direct online consultations are working in case the presence of a doctor is required, or if you go to the hospital, the health system will be ready to assist you. For the care of your mental health, there will be a network of more than 200 psychologists and other disciplines in contact 24 hours a day through 911. They will be ready to support those who have anxiety, distress or depression, and if necessary, refer them to health centers, clinics and hospitals. The network will also be linked to care for victims in the event of family violence. There are already immediate attention units with specialized equipment 24 hours a day. We will not allow mistreatment or abuse of girls, boys, youth or women. Let it be very clear: whoever does it will pay for it. Upon warning, there is no deception.
For emotional health care, we already have daily free, educational, sports and artistic alternatives through the Quintanarroense System of Social Communication and other channels that have also joined on open television. In addition, Internet, telephone, cellular and television providers have responded to our request to be flexible and avoid cuts in services for the duration of the contingency. With the animal health authorities, we will be supporting those who need care for their pets via telephone. As you will see, what you have to do is stay at home. The government will be there with you, in your home, solving together the five issues for your family tranquility: water, electricity, gas, food and health. We need to contain the speed of contagion. It is imperative to slow down the rhythm in order to quickly lower the number of patients to be cured, but above all, to prevent deaths. If you go out unnecessarily, you will be part of the spreading of this disease. If you stay home, you will be part of the life-saving solution. Stay home and save lives. I will be there with you so that together we can move ahead. Together we will move ahead!
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April 4, 2020
Finca Solana
Corozal Town