How Mexico's Covid-19 Saga Unraveled and Ended
Delve into Mexico's rollercoaster battle with Covid-19, from its controversial beginnings to the recent end of the emergency. Explore the impacts, controversies, and milestones in this article.
The Covid-19 pandemic in Mexico has been marked by controversy, quirky statements, and a rollercoaster of events. From the first case detection to the recent declaration of the end of the emergency, Mexico has experienced a tumultuous journey. Let's take a closer look at the key moments and impacts of this unprecedented crisis.
Patient Zero and Early Controversies
On February 27, 2020, Mexico detected its first Covid-19 case at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases. Although the individual had mild symptoms, they were isolated in the hospital for observation, according to the Ssa (Secretariat of Health). The following day, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed the first imported case, a 35-year-old man with a travel history to Italy, during his morning conference. However, in a rather controversial statement, he downplayed the severity of the virus, stating that it was not something terrible or fatal, even comparing it to influenza.
The Advent of Healthy Distance
March 23, 2020, marked the beginning of the National Healthy Distance Day in Mexico. It entailed the temporary suspension of non-essential activities across public, social, and private sectors, which continued until May of that year. The Ministry of Health advised against holding massive events with more than 5,000 people. This measure aimed to curb the spread of the virus and protect public health.
The Vaccination Campaign Begins
Fast forward to December 24, 2020, when Mexico City, the State of Mexico, and Querétaro initiated the first stage of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign. The priority was to vaccinate over 2,900 health workers who were at the forefront of combating the virus. This milestone offered a glimmer of hope in the fight against the pandemic.
The Controversial Mouthpiece
Hugo Lopez-Gatell, the Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion, faced criticism during the pandemic for dismissing the use of masks as a preventive measure against Covid-19. He even suggested that the virus could be transmitted through the eyes. While his views raised eyebrows among experts, they highlighted the ongoing debates and evolving scientific understanding surrounding the novel coronavirus.
High Mortality and the Semaphore
Mexico consistently found itself among the top ten countries worldwide in terms of Covid-19 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University reports. However, President López Obrador often discredited these statistics in his conferences. Meanwhile, the country introduced the Semáforo, an epidemiological risk traffic light system in June 2020. This system aimed to regulate public space usage based on the risk of Covid-19 infection. Some experts, such as Arturo Erdely, criticized it as a tool that failed to effectively identify and address the risk.
AMLO's Three Contagions
Even the President himself was not spared from the grasp of Covid-19. Andrés Manuel López Obrador contracted the virus three times. His first infection occurred on January 24, 2021, during which Olga Sanchez Cordero, then head of Segob, temporarily took over his morning duties. His subsequent infections took place on January 10, 2022, and April 23, 2023, the latter during his tour in Yucatan. These incidents highlighted the vulnerability of even the most prominent figures to the virus.
Impacts on Education and Healthcare
As a preventive measure, schools across Mexico closed on March 20, 2020, with a nationwide return to classes delayed until August 30, 2021. Mexico experienced the longest period of school closures among 30 countries compared to a comparative study by the OECD.
The extended closure had significant consequences, with over 1 million students leaving the education system during the health contingency. Approximately 652,720 students dropped out during the 2020-2021 school year, and an additional 483,499 students did not return for the 2021-2022 school year.
Recovering from the learning loss and reintegrating these students has proven to be a challenge. Specialists have criticized the government for not doing enough to address the lost learning and the psychological impact on students. The wave of mental health problems resulting from the pandemic has yet to be fully recognized and adequately addressed.
Another area severely impacted was healthcare. The reconversion of hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients and the displacement of resources and consultations led to delays in essential healthcare services. This had consequences for vaccinations, control of infections associated with healthcare settings, early detection of diseases, and access to treatment. The healthcare system struggled to cope with the demands of the pandemic, causing delays and disruptions in vital healthcare services.
Mexico's Covid-19 Figures
As of May 2, 2023, Mexico has recorded a staggering number of Covid-19 cases and deaths. The country has reported 7,587,643 infections and 333,913 deaths. The high mortality rate has had a profound impact on life expectancy in Mexico. Experts estimate that it has shortened by four years, from 74.2 years in 2019 to 70.2 years in 2022.
The End of the Emergency?
On May 9, 2023, President López Obrador declared the end of the Covid-19 emergency in Mexico, aligning with the World Health Organization's declaration. López Gatell, the Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion, pointed to a continuous downward trend in cases, hospitalizations, and deaths as the basis for this decision.
While the end of the emergency brings a sense of relief, it is essential to remain vigilant and continue adhering to public health guidelines. The journey through the pandemic has been challenging for Mexico, with controversies, mixed messages, and significant impacts on various sectors. The road to recovery will require concerted efforts to address the educational, healthcare, and mental health consequences while remaining prepared for any future challenges that may arise.
As Mexico turns the page on this chapter of its history, the lessons learned from the pandemic will undoubtedly shape the country's approach to public health and crisis management in the future.
Sources: daily and weekly updates from Hugo Lopez-Gatell, Mexican Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion
