General News

Mexico’s federal government has invoked a national health emergency, mandating all “non-essential” businesses remain closed until April 30 – a measure designed to ensure the Covid-19 outbreak doesn’t get out of control.

Governor Enrique Alfaro has confirmed the first death from Covid-19 in the state of Jalisco, bringing the national fatality total to three.

In a press conference, the governor explained that the victim was a 55-year-old man who succumbed in the Clinic 110 of the Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social (IMSS) in Guadalajara. The governor said the man suffered from diabetes and obesity.

The governor also promised to step up testing for Covid-19, noting that the state laboratory had around 5,000 test kits now available.

Alfaro said another measure under consideration is the suspension of flights to the state from abroad.

The fallout between OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia and non-OPEC leader Russia has kickstarted an oil price war.

With the first Covid-19 death in Mexico confirmed Wednesday evening, the country is ready to activate its “level two” alert, federal health authorities said Thursday.

Now that Mexico has entered “stage two” of the Covid-19 epidemic, meaning that “community” transmission is starting to take hold, the federal government is stepping up its containment strategy, primarily emphasizing the need to keep the country’s elderly safe and sound.

Both federal and regional authorities are implementing emergency measures and restrictions as the Covid-19 pandemic started its spread across Mexico this week.

Deputy Health Secretary Hugo López-Gatell said Tuesday that the epidemiological curve of the Covid-19 virus has entered “stage two,” meaning that person-to-person, or “community” cases in Mexico are now starting to be identified, as well as “imported” ones.

As of Tuesday evening, Jalisco has reported seven positive cases of Covid-19.  The total for Mexico stands at 93.