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Coronavirus: Mexico's death toll passes 30,000 | Coronavirus: Mexico's death toll passes 30,000 |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Mexico has recorded more than 30,000 deaths from its coronavirus outbreak, as the disease continues to ravage one of Latin America's worst-hit countries. | Mexico has recorded more than 30,000 deaths from its coronavirus outbreak, as the disease continues to ravage one of Latin America's worst-hit countries. |
The health ministry said deaths rose by 523 on Saturday, pushing the total to 30,366. | The health ministry said deaths rose by 523 on Saturday, pushing the total to 30,366. |
The country now has the world's fifth-highest Covid-19 toll, passing France, where more than 29,000 have died. | The country now has the world's fifth-highest Covid-19 toll, passing France, where more than 29,000 have died. |
A daily record of 6,914 new infections was recorded in Mexico, bringing the total to 252,165, officials said. | A daily record of 6,914 new infections was recorded in Mexico, bringing the total to 252,165, officials said. |
However, the true number of fatalities and infections is thought to be much higher because of insufficient testing. | However, the true number of fatalities and infections is thought to be much higher because of insufficient testing. |
Mexico has Latin America's second-highest death toll after Brazil, which has recorded 64,000 fatalities and more than 1.5 million infections to date, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the disease globally. | Mexico has Latin America's second-highest death toll after Brazil, which has recorded 64,000 fatalities and more than 1.5 million infections to date, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the disease globally. |
Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is eager to restart the country's flagging economy. His government announced a phased plan to lift restrictions in May. | Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is eager to restart the country's flagging economy. His government announced a phased plan to lift restrictions in May. |
In Mexico City, the capital, hundreds of thousands of factory workers returned to their jobs in mid-June. | In Mexico City, the capital, hundreds of thousands of factory workers returned to their jobs in mid-June. |
Some non-essential businesses were then allowed to reopen at the start of July in the city, the epicentre of the country's epidemic. | Some non-essential businesses were then allowed to reopen at the start of July in the city, the epicentre of the country's epidemic. |
But on Friday, Mexico's Deputy Health Minister, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, said coronavirus deaths could rise if the country opens up its economy too soon. | But on Friday, Mexico's Deputy Health Minister, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, said coronavirus deaths could rise if the country opens up its economy too soon. |
"As we're in an active epidemic, the risk is that as we try to reopen social activities... we may have more infections and the transmission could be maintained or increase," the minister told a news conference. | "As we're in an active epidemic, the risk is that as we try to reopen social activities... we may have more infections and the transmission could be maintained or increase," the minister told a news conference. |
Critics say Mr Obrador was slow to impose the lockdown measures and now has been too quick to lift them. | |
Most of the Mexican economy was stopped from 23 March, but some industries that were declared key to the functioning of the nation were exempt from the restrictions. | Most of the Mexican economy was stopped from 23 March, but some industries that were declared key to the functioning of the nation were exempt from the restrictions. |
On Saturday, authorities in Mexico City imposed a two-day suspension of non-essential business in parts of the capital, after shoppers flocked to the high street. | On Saturday, authorities in Mexico City imposed a two-day suspension of non-essential business in parts of the capital, after shoppers flocked to the high street. |
Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the suspension would give authorities time to review the reopening strategy. | Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said the suspension would give authorities time to review the reopening strategy. |
You may want to watch: | You may want to watch: |
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