Cristian Carlos. Peninsula 360 Press.
"Really, we would like not to be living this situation," said the head of the Mexico City government, Claudia Sheinbaum. "The most important objective, at this moment, is prevention: to reduce contagions, to reduce hospitalizations."
At a press conference, the head of the Mexico City Government, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, said that even with "all the efforts of citizens and the government," SARS-CoV-2 infections - the new coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19 - have increased, as well as hospitalizations and unfortunate deaths in the nation's capital.
Also present at the press conference were Mexico's deputy health minister, Hugo Lopez-Gatell and the governor of the State of Mexico, Alfredo del Mazo Maza.
"Even if we expand hospital capacity, we need to reduce the infection curve. We are asking all citizens to make an effort. So far, the capital of Mexico has a hospital occupancy rate of about 75 percent.
"Mexico City enters a red traffic light," Sheinbaum decreed. "For that reason, along with the State of Mexico, starting tomorrow, we have to reduce the ?economic? activity, reduce mobility." The maximum alert in the capital of the country will be in force until January 10.
During the course of this Friday, December 18, it is expected that the state gazettes of both Mexico City and the State of Mexico will publish what are considered essential activities, but said that the Deputy Minister of Health of Mexico, Hugo Lopez-Gatell, has reported that within these essential economic activities are the same that were contemplated last June:
- Sale of unprepared and prepared food ?only in the form of delivery without on-site consumption?
- The energy sector.
- The transport sector
- The manufacturing sector
- The health sector
- Funeral services
- Financial Services
- Building Services
- Telecommunications services.
- Sale and manufacture of medicines.
"2020 and 2021 will be very special years for the history of humanity; it is not, therefore, a time for parties," Lopez-Gatell said. "Let's wait, let's be patient, there will be an opportunity to celebrate," he added regarding the start of the holiday season in the country.
Finally, Claudia Sheinbaum, head of the Mexico City government, thanked and called on its population to "make an extraordinary effort" so that, during the period in red traffic light that, whoever gets sick by COVID-19 "can always have a bed in a hospital". He urged the population to stay at home, respect the physical distance - known in the country as "healthy distance" - wash their hands frequently, one person per family shopping and reiterated, on two occasions, to refrain from any kind of external meeting.
Sheinbaum also said that, in the event that any capital has been in contact with a person sick with COVID-19, is isolated in quarantine and request medical support to be assigned to a hospital.
