The controversy rumors in Mexico over the lightness of the president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador ("AMLO"), who brandished protective amulets against the Covid-19 virus. The social distancing campaign, which was to be launched on Monday March 23 by the government, does not include a mandatory containment measure.
" It’s monumental irresponsibility "Denounces the famous journalist Carlos Loret de Mola in a column published, Friday, March 20, by the daily El Universal. Like him, many editorials and Internet users castigate lax measures when the country already has more than 250 cases of coronavirus and at least two deaths. Three days earlier, during its daily press conference at 7 a.m., AMLO showed a small image representing the heart of Christ. " It's my protective shield "Said the person, who exhibited the next day a six-leaf clover as a talisman, also offered by one of his admirers. Enough to criticize the criticism caused by his recent walkabout when the health authorities recommend keeping his distance since the end of February. Not to mention the maintenance of the rock festival Long live Latin, which gathered, in mid-March, 40,000 spectators in Mexico City.
In recent days, AMLO has nevertheless reduced attendance during its public appearances. A measure advocated by the campaign of "healthy distance", scheduled from March 23 to April 19, which invites Mexicans to stay at home or maintain 1.50 m between each other outside. In the process, the public administration set an example by suspending "non-essential tasks", encouraging companies to telecommute. At Washington's request, the Mexican government agreed on Friday, March 20, to partially close its shared border with the United States for 30 days, prohibiting non-essential travel without affecting trade in goods. But for the time being, Mexico is keeping its air and land routes open, content with health checks at airports.
Minimalist action
The contrast with the drastic measures taken by many Latin American countries against the pandemic is striking. Argentina, with 225 cases on Saturday March 21, has just imposed a mandatory quarantine on its population. Bolivia and Colombia have done the same. Ecuador and Guatemala have imposed curfews. Many countries have completely closed their borders.
