No Easter Vacation in Mexico Amid COVID-19 Crisis, Says Health Minister

The Holy Week has begun, but people would have to spend it at home amid the COVID-19 crisis, Deputy Health Minister Hugo López-Gatell reminded the public during his daily coronavirus update press conference on Friday.

"There are no vacations because there is an order to temporarily suspend all [nonessential] activities in the public and private sectors," he said.

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In a recent article, the health minister said mitigation efforts aim to flatten the epidemic curve or lower the rate of transmission so that infections spread over time instead of suddenly spiking. To make this possible, people must stay at home.

López-Gatell, also an epidemiologist, said, "if we don't move around, the virus doesn't move around, and there isn't the transmission. Stay home, don't go on vacation, stay where you are."

As of Sunday morning, there were 2,143 confirmed cases and 94 deaths from coronavirus infection in Mexico. Meanwhile, 5,209 suspicious cases were being investigated.

In a press briefing, López-Gattel said Sunday that Mexico would reach Phase 3, the most intense of transmission, in two or three weeks.

Of the 94 deaths, 42.5 percent had previous health complications associated with hypertension, 38.30 percent suffered from diabetes, and 35.11 percent had health issues with obesity.

The majority of the deaths were recorded in Mexico City with 15, followed by Jalisco with six and Baja California and Sinaloa with five each. Fifty-eight percent of the confirmed cases are men, while forty-two are women.

According to López-Gatell, there is no evidence that the masks have been successful in slowing the spread of the virus in other countries, but people can use them as an "auxiliary prevention measure."

The statement comes after a coronavirus expert at the National Autonomous University and authorities in the United States recommended that citizens wear face masks.

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Experts believe masks lower the chances of transmission by people who are infected but are asymptomatic or showing no symptoms.

"It's common for waves of information to rise with the hope of finding alternatives [to physical distancing] ... but the popularity of this information doesn't necessarily correspond with the scientific soundness of evidence," he said.

However, he urged the public not to use N-95 respirator masks, as they are for medical personnel.

During the Sunday briefing, the health minister said the Mexican government sent a plane to China, which returned Monday. The aircraft was used to transport medical supplies necessary to shield the health personnel from the possible transmission.

López-Gatell said that it was still too early to be able to observe the effects of preventative measures on the spread of the virus. Yet, so far, the public has been "satisfied" with the initiatives undertaken.

Since there's still a long way to go before the end of the pandemic, he stressed that everyone's cooperation is vital to mitigating its effects.

"It's clear that no one is exempt from the risk [of infection]. We can't give ourselves the luxury of discord, of believing that we can save ourselves individually. I'm making a call for patience with an attitude of compassion and solidarity that will keep us united today and tomorrow."

Although New Mexico's stay-at-home order has closed church doors, people can still "attend" Eucharistic masses in the comfort of their own homes as churches stream their sermons online.