Message from H.E Ana Luisa Fajer, Ambassador of the United States of Mexico
- The world’s population is collectively facing the worst crisis, since 1945. How is your country coping with the situation? Please may you mention key measures and strategies that your government is currently adopting as well as noting the possible impact, of the pandemic, to your economy?
As most of the countries in the world, Mexico has adopted sanitary and economic measures in the different phases according to the evolution of the COVID-19. The Secretariat of Health is coordinating the sanitary strategy, and have made decisions based upon the tests that have been applied; the spread of the virus, and sanitary infrastructure capacity. Providing accurate information to the population on a daily basis has been a key component on the strategy followed by the government during this crisis.
Inequality and poverty are a main concern. Therefore, the government focuses on the poorest people. The President of Mexico has announced a major capital injection in May, June and July, to help the most impacted sectors of the population, as a result of the lockdown that was decided to flatten the curve of infection.
The private sector participation has been crucial. Private hospitals have come up in solidarity and several companies have guaranteed production and distribution of food during the lockdown.
International collaboration is key in this situation. This is why Mexico introduced at the United Nations General Assembly the resolution “International cooperation to ensure global access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment to face COVID-19”, which calls to ensure fair, transparent, equitable, efficient and timely access to and distribution of preventive tools, laboratory testing, new diagnosis, drugs, and future COVID-19 vaccines, with a view to making them available to those in need.
- The world needs good news, perhaps more than ever before. As such, we would like to ask about your countries recoveries. Are you seeing recoveries and what is the recovery rate? Are there specific approaches, that your country is exercising to minimise new infections?
Scientists and experts recommended that Mexico declared Phase 3 in the major cities and in high risks areas, which was finally declared on April 16. They suggested to segment the mobility with geographical contention methods, so people who live in low transmission zones do not move to other areas, and those who live in high transmission places, do not go to the low transmission ones. This phase will last until May 30th, and as of June 1st, it is expected that economic and social activities could start recuperating gradually.
Today (April 16th), there are 5,847 confirmed cases, 449 dead persons and 11, 717 suspicious cases. See live Stats
3. The people of the Republic of South Africa have been greatly impacted by the negative effects of Covid-19. We are sure you have come to love this country and the African continent. Any words of comfort as well as solidarity, from your mission and your country, to the millions of South Africans in need of hope?
This is the time for unity and hope. South Africans are strong people, lively and joyful. Without minimizing the gravity of events, I invite all people in this beautiful country, South Africa, to maintain a high morale and show confidence, solidarity and empathy.
These are challenging and disruptive times, but at the same time, we all are offered the opportunity to slow down, reflect and recuperate our lost values. We will return to more normal times, and at the end, we all will take pride of what we have gone through and we will grow stronger.
