Making Things Worse: Mexico’s Economic Decline, Murders, and the COVID-19 Crisis
As the COVID-19 crisis progresses in Mexico, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and his administration are continuing to take measures to hopefully prevent the country from becoming overwhelmed by the current pandemic.
Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Business owners in Mexico are requesting AMLO to provide a stimulus package for the already declining Mexican economy. An economy that will continue to fall due to the COVID-19 crisis. However, the president does not support the idea of bailouts and tax breaks. Instead, he suggests focusing on the poor by garnishing bureaucrat salaries, says an article out of Mexico.
Also, AMLO describes the pandemic as a 'transitory crisis.' He promises to bring everything back to normal as soon as possible.
Since the arrival of the deadly novel coronavirus in the country, AMLO has showcased normalcy towards the illness by violating social distancing guidelines such as his recent meeting with the mother of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, a convicted Mexican drug cartel kingpin.
Prediction on the Economy of Mexico
As mentioned above, a prediction by the Bank of America, states that Mexico's economy could decrease another eight percent in 2020. This slowing market is becoming a mainstay in Mexico's economical structure and doesn't seem to be changing amid the current health crisis.
Mexico's Homicide Issue
The rate of homicide in Mexica has also reached another alarming milestone in March with a record of 2,585 deaths. It is one of the most murderous months in the country to record. It came as many companies had suspended operations, and not enough Mexicans are abiding by government guidelines to stay inside their homes.
Making Things Worse
Mexico is already at an economic crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic is making it worse, says the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness' director Manuel Molano.
According to a pundit in Mexico City named Carlos Bravo Regidor, the increasing violence and economic downtrend of Mexico makes the country highly vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Comparing the COVID-19 Cases in Mexico to the U.S.
As per a report given by the Health Secretariat on April 13, Mexico has a total of 5,014 COVID-19 cases, and 332 people have lost their battle with the illness. These numbers are less than one percent of the total reported by the United States.
Unlike the U.S., Mexico's response to the COVID-19 crisis has received a considerable amount of criticism. Health authorities have delayed the cancellation of mass gatherings, and the order for the postponement of nonessential activities was late.
Additionally, testing has not been widespread in the country. Furthermore, the Health Ministry of Mexico has relied on disease modeling for its response to the pandemic.
Healthcare workers have also protested on the streets due to the insufficient number of personal protective gear and supplies they require to treat COVID-19 patients. This insufficiency of supplies has already resulted in doctors and nurses contracting the deadly virus.