Mexican Health Undersecretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell contradicted the alert issued by the Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), according to which there is an outbreak of COVID-19 that calls for a mass use of facemasks.
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The official said that UNAM has a responsibility to take care of its community and keeps a COVID-19 commission with a university risk program that works on the basis of public information, "we trust them a lot and they work hard, but they have a limited focus in a place with a microclimate."
Consequently, he recommended not to overestimate or exaggerate their approaches because in Mexico the situation regarding the SARS-CoV2 coronavirus is calm, although there has been a slight increase in confirmed and estimated cases in the current 30th epidemiological week, as well as in the 25th, 26th and 27th, but not in hospitalization, and many of those admitted were not immunized, he said.
Lopez-Gatell insisted that there are very few people admitted and the use of beds does not exceed 2.0 percent, therefore there is no alert situation, and what "we are dealing with is what is called variability of the virus which is also noted in other countries such as the United States, with which there is a geographical proximity, but there is no alert or warning signal, only this variability."
The expert did warn that, in the long term, with the arrival of the winter season, which lasts until March, about 50 respiratory viruses, including influenza and SARS CoV-2, will be triggered, for which reason people at risk over 60 years old and pregnant women should take measures.
At this time, he added, there is no need for vaccination and it is voluntary for people to do so, but when winter arrives, the immunization programs for influenza and COVID-19 will be implemented and the population will be notified in good time. ■
A trailing cold front in connection with a low pressure system currently moving east across the Great Lakes toward New England will bring a chance of rain into the eastern U.S. on this first day of November following an exceptionally dry October for this part of the country.