Weekly Report 55

GENERAL SITUATION IN MEXICO

Weekly Review # 55 I May 19, 2021

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CONFIRMED CASES: 2,382,745

NEW CASES REPORTED: 822

DEATHS: 220,489

ACCUMULATED DEATHS PER DAY

SOURCE: https://www.gob.mx/salud/

DISTRIBUTION OF DEATHS PER STATE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC

Information updated on May 17, 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.

National rate 1847.48

0 to 500 (1 states) 501 to 1,000 (4 states) 1,001 to 1,500 (12 states) 1,5001 to 2,000 (6 states) >2,000 (9 states)

Elaborated by Prodensa with information from the Health Ministry of Mexico

PANDEMIC’S SITUATION IN THE WORLD • As of May 17, 2021, globally there have been reported confirmed 162,773,940 cases (589,677 new cases) of COVID-19 and 3,375,573 deaths (11,127 new deaths*). Lethal rate: 2.1%.

• In the last 14 days, the number of new cases accounts for 6% (10,008,018) 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

SOURCE: https://www.gob.mx/salud/

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

BY REGION AS OF MAY 18

DEATH INCIDENTS IN POPULATION

BY REGION AS OF MAY 18

SOURCE: https://www.gob.mx/salud/

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TOWARDS THE “NEW NORMAL”

The traffic light will be as follows:

SOURCE: https://www.gob.mx/salud/

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KEY POINTS OF PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S Morning Press Conference May 12-18, 2021

COVID-19 REPORT President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador assured that the number of infections and deaths is decreasing, there is no shortage of vaccines, and, on the contrary, brigades will be expanded to vaccinate more people as soon as possible.

For his part, Undersecretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell reported that the epidemic has been reducing for 16 weeks, all indicators are going down, while vaccination against COVID-19 is on the rise. More than 10 million people are fully vaccinated, and more than 19 million with at least one dose.

CLOSURE OF THE NORTHERN BORDER WITH THE US Lopez Obrador reported that in the meeting with Vice President Kamala Harrys, access to vaccines was requested. Recently, President Joe Biden reported that he will support countries without access to vaccines with 80 million doses since it was recognized that all countries must be vaccinated to end the pandemic, a posture that is recognized.

For his part, Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Foreign Relations, specified that the extension of the closure of the northern border will continue until the vaccination on the North American side is finished; while on the Mexican side, it is already on a green traffic light and therefore will insist on opening the border, anticipating the opening in summer.

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEgOKuI-n-WOJaNcisHvSg

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KEY POINTS OF PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S Morning Press Conference May 12-18, 2021

SUSPENSION OF THE HYDROCARBONS LAW The President pointed out that the Court is reviewing the issue and that his government will continue to promote the order of the sector to avoid damage to the Nation.

He said that it is the same case of companies that took refuge against the reform of the Electricity Industry Law and that receive subsidies.

RETURN TO PRESENTIAL CLASSES Andes Manuel Lopez Obrador indicated that the vaccination of teachers will conclude in a month. After that, the return to face-to-face classes could be given 15 days after said vaccination and before the end of this school year.

FGR INVESTIGATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF NUEVO LEON Lopez Obrador indicated that the Opposition “tore its clothes” because the Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation against two candidates for the governorship of Nuevo Leon, underlining that it supports the action because the law is being transgressed, for this it is necessary to investigate, since electoral fraud is a serious crime, as established by the Constitution.

The President pointed out that they had already “accused” the Organization of American States (OAS).

Regarding this, he commented that he has nothing to hide, that they are against corruption, and that any organization can come to observe what is happening. It happens in the country.

SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEgOKuI-n-WOJaNcisHvSg

COVID-19 VACCINES Pedro Zenteno, head of BIRMEX, reported that this week the 62nd flight carrying 585,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine landed at the Mexico City International Airport. With this shipment, there would be 12,080,475 doses delivered by Pfizer to the country, representing 42% of the total.

PRESIDENTIAL APPROVAL The President presented the survey “Global Leader Approval Rating Tracker,” prepared by Morning Consult, which reflects the approval of various presidents around the world, pointing out that the people are the ones who support their government with 60 percent, and that the moment people stops supporting him, then he will cease to govern. He pointed out that he is not liked by the elite, the corrupt, influence peddlers, and journalists, but the working people and the people like him.

METRO LINE 12 The President pointed out that the victims are being treated, but the newspapers are misreporting the situation; the national press and radio are not national and therefore the attacks on your government.

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VACCINATION PROGRESS

As of May 17th, 23,301,884 doses had been applied. Of all the doses applied, 10,715,748 were for elderly citizens; 1,843,832 doses had been applied to teachers, and 1,887,336 for people over 50 years old. As of now, 29,790,255 doses have been received.

The vaccines applied in Mexico are Pfizer BioNtech, AstraZeneca, SinoVac, Sputnik V, and Cansino.

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MEASURES TAKEN

BY STATES IN MEXICO

BAJA CALIFORNIA Baja California remains in the medium risk tier for the week of May 17th to May 23rd, although the municipality of Mexicali has been declared to be considered in the high-risk tier or orange traffic light due to a permanent increase in Covid-19 cases. For Mexicali, new restrictions were implemented starting on May 16th, decreasing capabilities for most activities like restaurants, gyms, and other businesses to 30% capacity.

According to official data, there are currently 432 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Hospital occupancy increased to 24.06%, up from 21.40% last week, and with 435 hospital beds available and 230 available respirators. According to the last cut on May 18th, 387,730 people have been vaccinated, including adults over 50 years old, medical staff, academic staff, and pregnant women.

SONORA The state of Sonora remains in the lowrisk tier or green traffic light for the week of May 17th to May 23rd, with only three municipalities (Caborca, Huatabampo, and San Luis Rio Colorado) out of 72 considered in the medium risk tier.

According to the official report on May 17th, that there are currently 731 active Covid-19 cases in the state, a large decrease from 915 cases from last week. Reports also confirmed 72 current hospitalized Covid-19 patients, with 49 patients considered acutely ill and 12 critical patients using respirators. There were also reported 43 new confirmed cases, and there have not been new losses of life in the past 24 hours. As of May 16th, it was reported that 342,450 people had been vaccinated, including people with double vaccine. Most of the vaccinated people are adults over 60 years old and adults over 50, medical staff, and academic staff. On May 15th, over 39,000 Pfizer vaccines were received in a new shipment, which aims to apply the second vaccine to adults over 60 as well as the first vaccine for adults over 50.

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MEASURES TAKEN

BY STATES IN MEXICO

COAHUILA The state of Coahuila began this week with the application of anti-Covid vaccines for daycare staff in the entity. Roberto Bernal Gomez, Secretary of State Health, emphasized that 150 doses were applied initially, covering 18 children’s stays in La Laguna, except those affiliated with social security institutions.

NUEVO LEON Vaccination against COVID-19 for people between 50 and 59 years of age began this Tuesday, May 18, in the municipality of Escobedo, Nuevo Leon, where pregnant women and lags of older adults will also be vaccinated. Four modules were installed in the municipality to apply the doses, which will be from May 18 to 21.

TAMAULIPAS After concluding with the application of the vaccine against COVID-19 to the educational personnel of Tamaulipas, the State Secretariat of Education launched an announcement for the gradual and orderly return to face-to-face classes.

It is a pilot program in which primary and secondary schools in rural areas can voluntarily participate. In case of meeting the requirements, the selected schools will be able to rejoin the classrooms on May 31.

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MEASURES TAKEN

BY STATES IN MEXICO

JALISCO A new vaccination day against COVID-19 started this Tuesday, May 17, in Jalisco for health personnel from the private and public sectors. The second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is expected to be applied. At the same time, the first dose of the same biological vaccine will be applied to those who have not received it. This last group pre-registered on the platform included medical and nursing professionals and dentistry, nutrition, psychology, and chemical pharmacologists.

To date, 136 thousand doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine have been administered in Jalisco to health personnel throughout the state, both in the public and private sectors, and 85,890 professionals already have their complete vaccination schedule, including those who are in direct care in the COVID-19 hospital areas. The start of immunization for the general population from 50 to 59 years of age will be announced soon.

GUANAJUATO On Monday, May 17, 42,228 biologists against COVID-19 arrived at the Guanajuato to cover the second doses for older adults in Penjamo, Uriangato, Valle de Santiago, and Moroleon. The start of the vaccination process in these four municipalities of the state began on Tuesday, May 18, where the Pfizer-BioNtech laboratory vaccines are being applied. It will be on Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19, and Thursday, May 20, when the vaccine is applied to the population. In Penjamo, 15 thousand 498 doses will be destined, to Valle de Santiago 14 thousand 490, Mororeon 6 thousand 420, and Uriangato 5 thousand 820. The beneficiaries must go to the same module where they were vaccinated a few weeks ago and bring the proof that they were given when they applied the first dose and their CURP. For the next few days, a larger delivery is expected to cover the population between 50 and 59 years of age in the state and comply with the commitment of the Government of Mexico to immunize a significant percentage of the most vulnerable groups this month. In the state, 1 million 161 thousand 636 anti-covid-19 vaccines have been applied, of which 84 thousand 376 are health personnel, a total of 124 thousand 010 were intended for teachers.

In addition, 951 thousand 500 have been applied to adults older than 60 years and over, as well as 1,750 pregnant women.

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MEASURES TAKEN

BY STATES IN MEXICO

QUERETARO As of May 15, the state closed with an accumulated 324 active cases, a figure similar to the levels obtained a year ago between May 18 and 19, 2020, said the state Government’s spokesman, Rafael Lopez Gonzalez. He stated that if the state continues with this downward trend in the next few days, it could reach levels of contagion better than those of a year ago when the contingency started and the trend was upward. According to Rafael Lopez Gonzalez, the social training scheme, which consists of the implementation of sanitary protocols, has shown efficiency in the control of the pandemic.

This week, hospitalization dropped three percentage points, from 11 to 8% in the IRAG network; “this means that this week we stopped having COVID-19 patients faster than patients with respiratory infections”, he pointed out.

AGUASCALIENTES The application of the biological vaccine continues in Aguascalientes. The Institute of Health Services of Aguascalientes (Issea) confirmed that, as of May 17, 277,952 vaccines against COVID-19 had already been administered. On the same day, a second dose vaccination day was being held for people over 60 years of age who had already received their first dose of Sinovac. One of the centers open for this day was the Locomotoras Hall, where the line of adults reached the intersection of Alameda Avenue and Gomez Morin Avenue. As the pandemic and the application of the vaccine progresses, the National Vaccination Policy, issued by the Federal Government, has undergone some adjustments that have to do with the delays of the biologic and the definition of new priority groups such as teachers or pregnant women. So far, those who have already been immunized are health workers, education workers, people over 60 years old, and adults between 50 and 59 years old.

In addition, in Jesus Maria, the vaccination of pregnant women over 18 years old, who had previously registered after the Federal Government announced the vaccine for this group, has begun.

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MEASURES TAKEN

BY STATES IN MEXICO

STATE OF MEXICO The State of Mexico continues to be in yellow at the epidemiological traffic light. Health measures such as the use of facemask and social distancing continue to be in place.

CDMX Mexico City continues to be in the yellow epidemiological traffic light. Among the new measures, restaurants are allowed to be open until 23.00 hrs, and closed spaces can operate with 30% occupancy.

Bowling centers, pool bars, casinos, gyms, and religious centers can operate with 30% occupancy and health measures.

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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY FIRST USMCA ENVIRONMENTAL MEETING SCHEDULED

The first meeting of the Environment Committee under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will be held virtually on June 17, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced Monday.

Following the government-to-government meeting, the Committee will hold a public session.

The USMCA establishes an Environment Committee composed of high-level government representatives.

The Committee oversees the implementation of the Environment Chapter and provides a forum to discuss and review implementation issues.

In addition, the USMCA requires the Committee to meet within one year of the date of entry into force and every two years after that, unless the Parties agree otherwise.

During the next meeting, USTR said, the Parties will review the implementation of Chapter 24 (Environment) and discuss how the Parties are meeting their Chapter 24 obligations and will receive a presentation from the Secretariat of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) on cooperation and public presentations on enforcement issues.

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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

ENERGY AND LABOR DOMINATE IN FRICTION HEADING INTO THE FIRST USMCA SUMMIT Labor and energy issues dominate the irritants in trade and investment relations between Mexico and the United States, whose representatives will meet at the first summit meeting on the matter.

To monitor and evaluate Mexico’s labor reform efforts, the U.S. USMCA implementing legislation established an Independent Mexican Labor Expert Board, comprised of 12 U.S. labor and trade policy experts.

Katherine Tai, White House Trade Representative, and Tatiana Clouthier, Secretary of Economy, will participate in the virtual meeting of the Free Trade Commission of the Mexico-U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA), which will be held virtually.

On December 15, 2020, the board issued its first interim report to Congress acknowledging that Mexico has made significant progress in implementing labor reform measures, especially when considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ambassador Katherine Tai will host the virtual meeting, which Mary Ng will also attend, Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion, and International Trade. Their respective delegations will accompany the three ministers.

However, the report also acknowledges that many of the promised changes to improve workers’ lives and guarantee freedom of association and collective bargaining have not yet been implemented.

At the same time, U.S. concerns have been noted that Mexico’s energy policies may violate the USMCA and could hinder bilateral economic relations.

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EHS

RECOMMENDATIONS RUNNING ESSENTIAL ERRANDS BANKING Bank online when possible • Ask about options for telephone or virtual meetings to use banking services.

• Use drive-thru banking services, automated teller machines (ATM), or mobile banking apps for routine transactions that do not require face-toface assistance as much as possible.

• Look for any extra prevention practices implemented by the bank, such as plexiglass barriers for tellers or bankers, staff wearing masks, or physical distancing signs in the lobby.

• Wear a mask when doing any in-person exchanges and unable to stay at least 6 feet apart from other people – and make sure that bank employees and other people inside the bank are also wearing cloth face coverings.

• Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol after any deposit, withdrawal, exchange, drive-thru visit, or use of an ATM. • Wash your hands thoroughly when you arrive home or to your destination where a restroom is available.

DAVID ANTUNEZ Environmental, Health, and Safety 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.

FACE MASKS Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended to the U.S. government that persons with a full dose of COVID vaccination can stop using face masks in open public places. Vaccines have been shown to effectively prevent the development of serious illness and reduce hospitalizations and deaths. Therefore some protocols, such as the use of masks, have begun to be relaxed. This measure issued by the CDC does not apply to Mexico. The vaccine portfolio and the progress in the vaccination program in our country require that the face mask’s use continues as a basic preventive measure.

ALVARO GARCIA HR, Vice President

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