MEXICO CITY, Jan 15, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Mexico reeled Thursday from its worst
week of the pandemic yet, with deaths averaging nearly 1,000 a day and a
health system that was close to reaching a breaking point.
The Latin American country has seen a spike in infections and fatalities
following the Christmas and New Year holidays when families traditionally
gather.
Queues for coronavirus tests or tanks of oxygen for sick relatives are now
a common sight in Mexico City, where the mood on the streets is somber.
“We’re all scared, but unfortunately there are people who don’t understand
it, who go out without masks, have parties,” said Antonio Hoyos, a 55-year-
old government worker buying oxygen for his son.
“They don’t realize the magnitude of what they’re causing,” he added.
In the seven days to Wednesday, the nation of 128 million officially
registered 6,930 deaths, including a record 1,314 on Tuesday alone.
“Since late November there was a loss of control of social activity and
people began to go out too much in the streets,” epidemiologist Malaquias
Lopez told AFP.
Mexico has now recorded a total of 1.59 million Covid-19 infections and
nearly 138,000 deaths — the world’s fourth-highest toll.
Authorities say that is partly a reflection of the country’s large
population, but also the prevalence of underlying health problems including
obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
They acknowledge that the real death toll is probably much higher due to
limited testing.
– ‘Paranoid and scared’ –
The health system is overwhelmed in many areas, particularly Mexico City.
Home to nine million people, the capital has recorded more than 24,000
coronavirus deaths, and 91 percent of hospital beds are full, according to
the health ministry.
“It scares me,” said Izchel Martinez, a 36-year-old lawyer.
“If you die, what will happen to the children? I personally feel paranoid
and scared, and am being very careful,” she said.
The city’s authorities announced on Thursday a home care plan that they
said was for patients who do not need hospitalization, including a supply of
oxygen and monitoring by specialists.
But the program also reflects a grim reality.
“In some areas many have no chance of receiving medical attention. This
will even mean people dying at home,” warned Lopez, a former health ministry
official.
Since December 18, Mexico City has banned non-essential activities in an
attempt to curb infections.
The country began mass immunization on December 24 using the coronavirus
vaccine developed by US drugs giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech,
but it is constrained by limited supply.
Optimism over the vaccine also brings a risk that people forget about the
dangers, Lopez said.
“The truth is that vaccination is going to take a long time. There won’t be
a significant impact for a long time and by then many will already be dead,”
he warned.