The Mexican government has allowed factories to restart operations and travels to resume despite the continuously rising number of COVID-19 cases in one of the hardest-hit countries in Latin America. 

On Tuesday, Mexico's health officials reported a troubling 4,599 new infections along with 730 virus-related deaths, bringing the country's toll to 154,863 confirmed cases and 18,310 total deaths. However, the government believes the real number is several times higher than official counts, Reuters reported. 

The country - which has the second-highest death toll in Latin America - is under a phased reopening. This week, over 340,000 returned to their jobs in factories. Small shops will reopen on Thursday, while professional services are allowed to resume operations on Friday. Street markets and city centers are expected to reopen next week, while churches and restaurants are allowed to operate at reduced capacity. 

Lifting restrictions

Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador became the subject of criticism by experts who claim he was too quick to lift restrictions that he imposed too late, BBC reports. 

The country's economy was suspended on March 23, but several industries deemed necessary to keep the nation functioning were allowed to continue operations. 

Tourism, which is a key sector in the country's economy, strives to pick up speed. On Monday, beaches in Baja California Sur reopened, with hotels and dining establishment operating at 30 percent capacity. 

The Mexican state of Quintana Roo, where Cancun is located, also reopened the previous week under strict social-distancing and COVID-19 prevention guidelines. 

COVID-19 testing

The Latin American country fought the disease without conducting mass testing. Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell avoided widespread testing and imposed a strategy based on a model drawn up nearly a decade ago. According to CNN News, Mexico's top health officials believe mass testing to be a waste of time. 

The government only grants coronavirus testing to those with severe cases of the virus. Individuals who are suspected of being infected by the virus are monitored. The strategy, Lopez-Gatell said, is to give the government an overview of what is happening while limiting the resources spent of testing. 

"I don't think testing is a must," Lopez-Gatell said. "This doesn't mean we're resistant to testing, we will use testing but in a carefully planned manner."

The rise in cases and the inconsistent numbers forced Mexico City's Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum to announce plans to conduct 100,000 tests a month starting July through an aggressive information campaign. According to VOA News, the mayor also promised to collect more data to make tracking potential infections more efficient. 

While Sheinbaum's approach is a stark contrast to that of the Mexican administration's strategy, Lopez-Gatell praised her effort to expand testing. 

Mexico City has the majority of reported coronavirus cases in the country. Local health officials have recorded more than 32,000 infections and 3,200 deaths in the city alone. 

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