Hospitals in Mexico are already at full capacity. One hospital in particular, in the neighborhood of Tlatelolco, is on the brink of collapse.

There are currently 20 doctors who are infected with COVID-19 leaving almost 78 patients in the care of the remaining 6 doctors who have yet to be tested for the coronavirus. The hospital had already lost one of their doctors to the virus while another is in critical condition.

Doctors from the Tlatelolco General Hospital are experiencing a shortage of PPEs or personal protective equipment. Request letters have been sent to the hospital's director asking for more PPEs and replacement of ventilators and medical equipment but they are yet to receive a response. Most of the hospital ventilators are either faulty or completely out of order.

Saving Mexico's front liners

At a height of any epidemic, loss of medical staff is a country's worst nightmare. Without people specialized to help patients combat the deadly virus, there is a very low chance of survival. The country has sent home all their elderly and pregnant medical personnel citing that they have a high risk of contracting the disease resulting in most hospitals being understaffed.

Health officials urged hospitals to follow strict hygiene protocols and to regularly disinfect their facilities. With cases in Mexico rising every single day, medical staff in government hospitals are working round the clock leaving most of them overworked and exhausted. Some states like Juarez, are already pleading for more medical and health professionals to volunteer to ease the strain on the state's medical resources.

As of April 2020, 329 medical staff have tested positive for the virus.

In most countries, medical staff are praised for their tireless and hard work. But in Mexico even with the country's medical staff working twice as hard, they are experiencing nothing but hate from some members of society. There is false news circulating on social media that the country's front liners are the ones spreading the virus themselves. A lot of people surprisingly believe it resulting in nurses and doctors being attacked on the streets.

In a press conference held last month, the head nurse of the IMSS has tearfully asked the public to respect their medical workforce and solidarity is much needed at this time of crisis.

Check these out:

Doctors, Nurses fight for proper equipment

According to the WHO, COVID-19 will continue to be a threat until a proper vaccine has been found. For most countries, even if the number of positive cases go down, the fight is still not over.

In the past weeks, medical workers have been seen demonstrating on the streets and demanding more protective equipment. One nurse complained that she was only allowed to use one mask per day even if she tended to several COVID-19 patients. Some hospitals are even running out of masks at a time that positive cases are surging.

The government has said that medical equipment from China will cover up the country's PPE shortage. Last May 13, 120 tons of medical equipment arrived in Mexico from Shanghai. Since then hundreds of gloves, goggles, and other types of PPEs have been distributed to hospitals across the country.