COVID-19. Situation in Mexico / Weekly Review #42

COVID-19 SITUATION IN MEXICO Weekly Review # 42 February 16, 2021

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DISTRIBUTION OF DEATHS PER STATE: CONFIRMED CASES: 1,995,892

NEW CASES REPORTED: 3,098

DEATHS: 174,657

ACCUMULATED DEATHS PER DAY

Information updated on February 15, 2021 at 19:00 hrs local time.

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INCREASE OF CONFIRMED CASES SINCE THE FIRST REPORT MAP WITH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE INCIDENCE RATE OF ACCUMULATED CASES OF COVID-19 BY ENTITY OF RESIDENCE.

0 to 500 (1 states) 501 to 1,000 (8 states) 1,001 to 1,500 (10 states) 1,5001 to 2,000 (7 states) >2,000 (5 states)

National rate 1547.53

Elaborated by Prodensa with information from the Health Ministry of Mexico

CORONAVIRUS IN THE WORLD (COVID-19) • As of February 15 2021, globally there have been reported 108,579,352 confirmed cases (332,360 new cases) of COVID-19 and 2,396,408 deaths (9,691 new deaths*). Lethal rate: 2.2%.

• In the last 14 days, the number of new cases accounts for 5% (5,356,193) of the total of accumulated cases. *https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200323-sitrep-63-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=d97cb6dd_2

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TOWARDS THE “NEW NORMAL” INCIDENTS OF CONTAGIONS IN THE POPULATION

BY REGION AS OF FEBRUARY 16

DEATH INCIDENTS IN POPULATION

BY REGION AS OF FEBRUARY 16

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TOWARDS THE “NEW NORMAL”

The traffic light will be as follows: Alert Level

Activities allowed to operate

Maximum risk

• Only essential activities.

• Vulnerable personnel must work from home.

High risk

• Full operation of essential activities and reduced operation in non-essential activities.

Presence of workforce to a 30% in non-essential activities.

Medium risk

Low risk: Continuation of daily activities

General criteria • Promote work from home, as much as possible.

• Allow a distance of 1.5 meters between people and/or provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) accordingly.

• Place physical barriers in workstations, eating areas, etc.

• Increase the frequency of transportation and alternate seats for safe distance.

• Establish alternate and flexible schedules and shifts to reduce contact.

• Implement filters at entries and exits.

• Full economic activity.

• Restricted activities in public spaces.

• Presence of all personnel at the workplace.

• Implementation of health protection measures.

• Provide permanent attention to the vulnerable population

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KEY POINTS OF THE PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR Morning press conference February 10-16, 2020

MIGRATORY SITUATION President Lopez Obrador commented that President Joe Biden himself told him that it will take time to define and order immigration policy. It does not imply that everyone will be able to go to the United States and be regularized. Mexico’s proposal to President Biden is to help Central America and southern Mexico provide investment and employment.

President AMLO stressed that he agrees with the cancellation of the wall by the US government. He noted as a historical fact that President Joe Biden had suspended construction. Regarding immigration policy, he commented that compliance with the commitment to regularize the situation of Mexicans living and working in the United States is very important; migrants who have requested asylum can wait to resolve their situation in that country. He pointed out that there is no immigration policy that allows free access for people to the United States.

However, it is necessary to design a policy for the delivery of visas that allows workers’ legal entry.

VACCINATION He commented that there is a hopeful scenario for applying the vaccine and added that there is a reduction in infections in the places where the vaccination strategy has been implemented.

It was indicated that 1,081 vaccination points were planned in 333 municipalities for the vaccination of older adults. Of these, 539 vaccination points were installed on February 15 in 144 cities due to bad weather, and that the ambient temperature would have damaged the vaccine, health authorities said.

Vaccination for older adults against COVID-19 began in 30 of the 32 states.

On February 11, the government recalled a shipment with 2 million doses of CanSino vaccine that arrived

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KEY POINTS OF THE PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR Morning press conference February 10-16, 2020 in Mexico, which will be packaged in Queretaro. The head of the Minister of Foreign Affairs recalled that on February 14, 870 thousand doses of AstraZenecaIndia arrived in Mexico, out of a total of just over 2 million doses. Additionally, he indicated that Mexico will produce more than 250 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine together with Argentina.

Mexico received confirmation from COVAX of allocating 6.4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca in the first half of 2021. Of the AstraZeneca vaccines via COVAX, between 1.6 and 2.2 million will arrive in Mexico no later than March.

MEXICO IN THE REGION OF NORTH AMERICA The President commented that Mexico is the region that consolidates the development and growth of North America because it has a young, responsible, and intelligent workforce that other countries in the region do not have. He recognized that investment is required. However, production processes, even automated ones, require the participation of workers.

He highlighted that remittances are currently the main income source for the country with more than 40 billion dollars.

ECONOMIC REACTIVATION The President reported different basic measures to face the effects of the health emergency caused by COVID-19, particularly the delivery of social programs and support to rural producers, strengthening the energy sector to produce gasoline in Mexico, and providing electricity at low prices. Tourist reactivation is of great relevance for the economic consolidation of the country. He pointed out that the southeast has the greatest energy and natural resources. Hence projects such as the Mayan Train are favored.

BLACKOUT IN THE NORTH OF THE COUNTRY The Federal Executive head noted that the blackout in Nuevo Leon, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, and Chihuahua results from the winter storm. Still, CFE technicians are already working to restore service, adding that so far, there are 400,000 affected users. He indicated that work is being done to replace fuel sources. He ruled out that the blackout was the product of a boycott by private companies, said that those who disagreed with the Electricity Industry Law’s reform are doing work in national and foreign media, denied that the reform violates the USMCA. BACK TO SCHOOL The government reported that the “learn at home program” has been measured with various surveys.

Parents and students respond that the learning has been carried out satisfactorily. The program was created so that most children and young people from Mexico had the opportunity to study through radio and television. About 65% of children study through the internet with mobile phones.

The population that was not benefited by these programs will be assisted during the back-to-school period in order to avoid school lag.

COVID-19 Situation in Mexico

VACCINATION PROGRESS Phase II began on February 15th. AstraZeneca vaccine is already being administered to seniors in 30 states, with more than 87 thousand doses being applied.

However, there are delays due to external factors (Coahuila and Nuevo Leon).

Overall, a total of 813,785 vaccines have been administered (Pfizer and AstraZeneca). The government informed that 86,198 vaccination schemes (2 doses) had been completed among health personnel, and the application in this sector is still continuing.

Dr. Lopez-Gatell recalled that 491,400 Pfizer doses will arrive in Mexico this week. Regarding the criteria for applying the vaccine against COVID-19, the Undersecretary of Prevention and Health Promotion commented that it was decided to start with older adults in marginalized areas. AstraZeneca had access to a large number of vaccines from India, which has more favorable conditions for their use.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard mentioned the number of doses that the Federal Government has already contracted to vaccinate the entire population is as follows:

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MEASURES TAKEN

BY STATES IN MEXICO AGUASCALIENTES Until February 14, deaths from the COVID-19 coronavirus remain at a high level in Aguascalientes, even though a decrease had been reported in at least two days.

On Monday morning, older adults living in Rincon de Romos, San Jose de Gracia, and Cosio received the first doses of the vaccine against the COVID-19 coronavirus. This period is expected to end between April and May, with the vaccination of the entire population over 60 years of age that lives in the entity. According to information released on February 14 by the government in Aguascalientes, the doses to be applied among this population were manufactured by the AstraZeneca laboratories and correspond to the shipment that arrived at dawn this Sunday in Mexico City.

BAJA CALIFORNIA For the first time since the last weeks of November, the State Government of Baja California decided to consider the situation a high-risk status, decreasing the State´s consideration as a maximum risk. This comes as a result of a significant decrease of Covid-19 cases, which saw its highest peak in the first weeks of January. Current hospital occupancy in the State has hit a several-month low rate, currently at 26.86% across the State. The federal government decided to consider Baja California at even a lower risk status, changing its color to yellow in the federal measures. Still, state officials decided to continue considering it as a red light. With the change of risk status, higher limits of attendance are permitted in different businesses and activities: restaurants are now able to operate with 75% capacity (previously 30%), gyms go up to 65% (previously 25%), movie theaters, parks, and religious centers go up to 50% (previously 25%).

After a weeks-long pause, the vaccination campaign was able to start again with 23,810 doses received from the Federal Government on Sunday, February 14th, which are intended to be applied to the elderly population and first tiers.

CDMX Starting on February 18, four hospitals in the CDMX will conduct a study for the care of patients with mild or moderate COVID-19, with Remdesivir combined with Baricitinib and Dexamethasone, informed the Secretary of Health, Oliva Lopez Arellano. The governments of Mexico City announced that they will turn orange on the epidemiological traffic light. Because of this, gyms will be able to open outdoors, as well as theaters and restaurants full time.

COAHUILA Through the Ministry of Health, the Government of Coahuila received on February 14 a batch of 20,298 vaccines from AstraZeneca to be used by older adults against COVID-19. The vaccines reached Torreon, and from there, they were taken to Saltillo, Monclova, and Piedras Negras to be divided throughout the state.

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MEASURES TAKEN

BY STATES IN MEXICO GUANAJUATO According to the latest official data for February 15, there are 114,348 people infected by the new coronavirus in Guanajuato. On February 14, the vaccines against COVID-19 arrived in Guanajuato for older adults that will be applied in 48 medical units of the State in the following municipalities: Atarjea, Comonfort, Dr. Mora, San Jose Iturbide, San Luis de la Paz, Santa Catarina, Tierra Blanca, Victoria, and Xichu. This is the first shipment of 40 thousand 619 vaccines that, starting on February 15, will be applied in joint work between the Guanajuato Ministry of Health, the Mexican Army, and the members of the Correcaminos operation coordinated by Military Doctor Enrique Jimenez Chavarria of the XII Military Region of Irapuato.

JALISCO With data until February 15, Jalisco’s Ministry of Health Secretariat registered 736 new coronavirus infections, of which 213 thousand 445 confirmed cases accumulate throughout the State. One hundred seven municipalities with active cases are reported in Jalisco, those with SARS-CoV-2 positive people who began with symptoms of the disease in the last fourteen days.

According to Governor Enrique Alfaro, 58,690 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines arrived in Jalisco that will be distributed in five health regions of the entity. The vaccines were received on February 14 at the airport of the Military Air Base # 5, in Zapopan, Jalisco. They were transferred to a warehouse of Jalisco’s Ministry of Health, from where they will be distributed for application in the health regions of Colotlan, Tamazula, Ciudad Guzman, Autlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Ameca.

TAMAULIPAS In Tamaulipas, international bridges’ closure has affected tourists with Visa who see very far to enter the United States. For the moment, their only option is to present proof of having been vaccinated against COVID-19.

However, the government considers that due to the delay in arrival and vaccination in Mexico, it will be complicated to cross the border, although the Representation of the Government of Tamaulipas in Texas anticipates that it could be in the middle of the year when an opening of the crossings could be presented. The Representation of the Government of Tamaulipas in Texas called to accelerate the vaccination process in Mexico. Otherwise, it warned it could take up to 30 years to go through international bridges to be regularized.

QUERETARO Queretaro’s Ministry of Health reported that 12 people died from COVID-19, and 237 more were infected. Hospital occupancy is 40% for beds with a fan and 39% for beds without a fan. According to the Federal Government, on February 15, will begin the application of the vaccines against COVID-19 for older adults.

The Minister of National Defense (Sedena), Luis Crescencio Sandoval, pointed out that last Sunday, the land distribution for Queretaro, Mexico City, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla, and Tlaxcala left from the Birmex laboratory. “They will be taken to the health jurisdictions with the cold network they require and from there to the vaccination centers where the vaccination brigades will be,” he said.

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MEASURES TAKEN

BY STATES IN MEXICO NUEVO LEON Due to the low temperatures that caused a snowfall, the blackout in the north of the country, and in order not to expose the elderly, the Nuevo Leon government postponed the start of the mass vaccination against coronavirus and would start on Wednesday. The Minister of Health said that the application of vaccines would begin at 10 am on Wednesday, February 17. He indicated that this Monday, the government expected to distribute 36,360 vaccines against coronavirus in the municipalities of Linares and Doctor Arroyo. However, due to complications, they will be delivered until Wednesday.

SONORA Continuing with a decrease of Covid-19 cases in the whole State of Sonora, the State has been considered as a medium risk status or yellow traffic light by the Federal Government. Within the State, only the municipality of Navojoa continues to be considered as a maximum risk status, with the state capital Hermosillo going into a high-risk status. After a second shipment of the vaccines was received from the Federal Government, it is estimated that 20,620 older adults will be vaccinated in the following days, mainly in rural communities. After rural communities are covered, the vaccination campaign will continue in the urban areas.

STATE OF MEXICO As well as in Mexico City, the government announced that the epidemiological traffic light will change to orange, and some businesses and churches may open but with more health measures.

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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY BANNING SUBCONTRACTING WILL STOP INVESTMENTS: COPARMEX The President of the Employers’ Confederation of the Mexican Republic (COPARMEX), Jose Medina-Mora Icaza, defended the importance of maintaining the labor subcontracting scheme. It grants flexibility to companies, workers and contributes to the country’s competitiveness.

Questioned about the spirit of the Initiative that was created to avoid layoffs in December, Medina-Mora said that there had been direct communication with the President of the Republic to show him with hard data that this is a cyclical phenomenon, not exclusive to Mexico, which obeys the natural cycles of employment.

In his participation in the forum “The Impact of Outsourcing on the Economy” organized by Forbes Mexico, Medina-Mora reiterated his call to legislators to contemplate this figure because its cancellation represents risks such as the exit of companies from the country and the loss of formal jobs.

He said that in the case of Mexico, particularly in December, it is because projects related to the same government budget are finished, which we know are annual budgets that have to be exercised. Therefore the execution of projects that end in December is planned.

This figure, said Medina-Mora, has allowed in some sectors such as the countryside to give formality to workers; also, subcontracting is widely used by international companies that have operations in Mexico, mainly in the Information Technology sector where this structure is fundamental.

Regarding the issue of bad business practices in outsourcing, the employer’s leader said that Coparmex had expressed its support for respecting the Rule of Law. The call is to the authorities to impose the necessary sanctions to stop these actions through the applicable measures.

He reiterated that Mexico needs to comply with two objectives regarding subcontracting: first, to maintain it to remain competitive with other countries that have made progress in its regularization and formalization, and second, to prioritize respecting workers’ rights.

In Mexico, 40 percent of those who work under the subcontracting scheme are women, 25 percent are young people entering the labor market, and this flexible scheme allows them to combine their study or home activities with the professional sphere.

Finally, he expressed his support for Miguel Perez Garcia’s proposal to promote a pact for Decent Work since the risk of job losses due to investments leaving the country is high.

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People healed from coronavirus

84.5 Millions

Vaccinated people in the world

177,940,487

GOOD NEWS MEXICO BEGINS THE DEPLOYMENT OF COVID-19 VACCINES FOR THE ELDERLY Mexico began on Monday the task of vaccinating millions of senior citizens against the coronavirus.

Mexico began vaccinating healthcare workers in late December and is starting a second phase for the elderly, even as it waits for more vaccine shipments.

By the end of April, the government aims to have vaccinated everyone over 60, or 12% of the population of about 128 million, who are among the most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum reported that by mid-afternoon, the city had given shots to 10,565 people.

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RECOMMENDATIONS HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR FACEMASKS Prodensa recommends that people wear facemasks in public settings, at events and gatherings, and anywhere they will be around other people. Effective on February 11, 2021, facemasks are required on buses, trains, and other public transportation forms, within, Nuevo Leon State, public spaces, governmental offices, and private and public business establishments.

EHS

DO choose facemasks that: • Have two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric.

• Completely cover your nose and mouth.

• Fit snugly against the sides of your face and don’t have gaps.

• Have a nose wire to prevent air from leaking out of the top of the mask.

DO NOT choose facemasks that: • Are made of fabric that makes it hard to breathe, for example, vinyl.

• Have exhalation valves or vents that allow virus particles to escape.

• Are intended for healthcare workers, including N95 respirators.

DAVID ANTUNEZ Environmental, Health, and Safety Director.

HOW TO REINFORCE YOUR REPUTATION IN A CHALLENGING MARKET?

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Be a socially engaged company.

Identify the needs of your community and establish programs to help the community and the environment. By helping the community, you can also reinforce your relationship with Public Institutions.

Pay attention to your social media. Your social media is a good image of how your people and the community perceive your company. A crisis communication plan must be developed.

YOELLE ROJAS Public Affairs & Communications Director

BASIC PROTECTIVE MEASURES AGAINST COVID-19

1 2 3 4 5 Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds.

When coughing or sneezing, cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue or use the inside corner of your arm.

Avoid shaking hands and kissing.

Keep your workspace clean and don't share personal items and utensils.

If you show symptoms of a cold or flu, go to a doctor. Do not self-medicate and inform your supervisor and Human Resources department.

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