GENERAL SITUATION IN MEXICO
Weekly Review # 73 I September 22, 2021
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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY MEXICO WANTS TO ATTRACT CHIP INVESTMENT TO THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY
Mexico is promoting the southern states of the country as possible investment destinations for semiconductor manufacturing because they have the abundance of water required for the industry, according to Tatiana Clouthier, Secretary of Economy. Given that “semiconductor production requires a lot of water, we may have to go further south,” where water is much more abundant than in the arid northern states near the U.S. border, Clouthier told Reuters in an interview. At the so-called High-Level Economic Dialogue (HLED) between the United States and Mexico, held in Washington last week for the first time in several years, the neighboring nations agreed to make shared supply chains, especially for semiconductors, more competitive. The agreement comes as a shortage of semiconductor chips has forced North American automakers to suspend production, and officials warn that the problem is worsening. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has invested and boosting development in Mexico’s poorer southern states, a key goal of his administration. “When we talk about balancing the supply chain, we are talking about moving them here,” Clouthier said, noting that the Mexican states of Jalisco and Baja California already have semiconductor production. “Mexico can contribute in assembly, packaging, and wafers,” Clouthier said. Wafers are the silicon wafers on which bulk semiconductors are manufactured, and each can contain thousands of chips.
Mexico and the United States agreed at the HLED to create bilateral working groups on semiconductor supply chains, as well as on medical devices and pharmaceuticals, said Clouthier, who also met with the Semiconductor Industry Association and the Information Technology Council.
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GOOD NEWS COVID VACCINE EFFECTIVE IN CHILDREN 5 TO 11 YEARS OLD: PFIZER
Pfizer will seek FDA and other regulators’ approval of its vaccine for children 5 to 11 years of age as a matter of urgency.
observed in people aged 16 to 25 years. The safety profile was also generally comparable to that of the older age group, they said.
Pfizer and BioNTech on Monday said their Covid-19 vaccine induced a robust immune response in children aged 5 to 11 years, and plan to seek approval to use the vaccine in children in that age range in the United States, Europe, and other locations as soon as possible.
“Since July, pediatric cases of Covid-19 have increased by approximately 240% in the United States, underscoring the public health need for vaccination,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a press release.
The companies said the vaccine generated an immune response in children aged 5 to 11 years in their Phase II/ III clinical trial that matched what they had previously
SOURCE: FORBES
“The results of these trials provide a strong basis for seeking authorization of our vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years, and we plan to submit them to the FDA and other regulators as a matter of urgency.”
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KEY POINTS OF PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S Morning Press Conference Sep 15-21, 2021
COVID – 19 Undersecretary Hugo López-Gatell pointed out that this week marks eight weeks of reduction of the epidemic, both in infections and in hospital occupation. So far, 96 million vaccines have been applied throughout the country, 69% of the population already has the complete scheme, and 32% corresponds to new schemes. This week, the government will receive 228,000 doses of Pfizer and the second shipment of 1,750,000 doses of Moderna, which corresponds to the donation by the United States government. VARIANT MU OF THE VIRUS SARS-COV-2 Undersecretary Hugo López-Gatell indicated that the “Mu” variant has already been identified in Mexico but pointed out that it is not a risk variant because it does not represent greater virulence. AGREEMENTS REACHED BY CELAC Chancellor Marcelo Ebrard mentioned that he would continue to insist on the importance of democratizing production and ensuring fair and equitable access to vaccines. The regional health self-sufficiency plan was approved, which has seven lines of action.
SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEgOKuI-n-WOJaNcisHvSg
Among them, the following stand out: coordination between national regulatory entities, the creation of regional mechanisms for purchasing vaccines, and the implementation of a regional platform for clinical trials. LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN President Lopez Obrador read the letter he sent to President Biden recently regarding the immigration effect. He again raised the need to immediately implement two programs in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras: sowing lives young people building the future. In the letter, President Lopez Obrador calls for more urgent action and investment in Central America to carry out the programs that are being applied today in southeastern Mexico. Finally, the President commented that it would not be possible to consolidate as a region in the world if a plan is not carried out regarding the goods that we consume and that in North America, all the electrical appliances that are consumed could be produced. He also noted that the United States would require labor for its infrastructure project plan.
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MEASURES TAKEN BY STATES IN MEXICO
BAJA CALIFORNIA The State of Baja California remains considered as medium-risk or yellow light. Official reports confirmed 773 active cases in the last week, with hospital occupancy at 48.69%. The percentage of the population with a complete vaccination scheme increased to 80.46%. The vaccination plan continues this week by applying the complete vaccination scheme of Astra Zeneca, Pfizer, and Sinovac to adult populations in Tijuana, Ensenada, San Quintin, and Mexicali.
SONORA Sonora’s risk light changed the past week due to the drop of COVID-19 cases. Most of Sonora´s municipalities are considered medium-risk tier or yellow light, two municipalities in the high-risk tier or orange light, and three municipalities out of 72 in the low-risk tier or green light. Eighty-two new cases were reported in the past 24 hours. The state of Sonora received 145,080 Pfizer vaccines to apply second doses in people aged 18 thru 29 years. The vaccination plan continues with applying first and second doses of Astra Zeneca and Sinovac to adult populations in different municipalities.
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MEASURES TAKEN BY STATES IN MEXICO
COAHUILA After the donation of 1,100 vaccines from Maverick County, United States (USA) to the government of Coahuila, children between 12 and 17 years of age were immunized against COVID-19. All of them are children of maquiladora workers to foster the state’s economic recovery. TAMAULIPAS The Federal Ministry of Health released the Covid-19 traffic light color for all entities of the Mexican Republic, which will be in force from September 20 to October 3, 2021. For Tamaulipas, it was determined that it remained orange for two more weeks. NUEVO LEON Children from Nuevo Leon under 18 will begin to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in Texas, with the “Cross-Border Vaccination program,” an initiative promoted by the new state’s governor-elect, Samuel Garcia. Nine buses with children and teenagers left on Monday, September 21. The minors were accompanied by their parents and vaccinated at the Hidalgo-Reynosa bridge with the Pfizer laboratory vaccine in McAllen.
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MEASURES TAKEN BY STATES IN MEXICO
QUERETARO In Queretaro last week, there was a decrease in active cases of Covid-19, since 1,474 cases were reported compared to 1,783 at the beginning of the week, informed the Organizational spokesperson of the State Government, Rafael Lopez Gonzalez. He specified that this is due to several factors, such as the number of people vaccinated and the number of people infected during July and August, which decreased the “susceptible group” to be infected. He pointed out that the accompaniment of the spokesperson to return to classes, and the social training, caused the population to be alert to the presence of the virus.
AGUASCALIENTES The Governor of Aguascalientes, Martin Orozco Sandoval, announced that 140 suspected coronavirus cases had been registered, of which 40 have been confirmed since the beginning of the school year. On the other hand, the state president informed that the events that have taken place in the state, such as the Wine Route and the return to school, have not had a significant impact on positive cases and that the planning of the Calaveras Festival and the National Charro Congress, among others, continues. On the other hand, the state Health Secretary, Miguel Angel Piza, indicated that most of the cases of Covid-19 are concentrated in those who have not applied the anti-covid vaccine. On the other hand, the authorities indicated they are concerned because about five thousand people have not gone to apply the second dose of anti-covid and thus, complete their vaccination schedule.
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MEASURES TAKEN BY STATES IN MEXICO
GUANAJUATO In one of the recent data reports by the Ministry of Health of Guanajuato (SSG), it was reported that of all those hospitalized for covid-19 in the state, 77.23 percent of them have no vaccines. In comparison, the remaining 22.77 percent do, of which 42 of them have only one dose and 63 of them have their complete vaccination schedule. So far, 1,728,945 Guanajuato residents have been fully vaccinated, which represents 28 percent of the state’s population vaccinated, considering that the state is home to approximately 6,167,000 people, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). The population group that covers almost a third of the doses is the elderly adults aged 60 years or more, with 502 thousand 134 vaccines completed. Adults from 40 to 49 are the second group in the state that has received more vaccines, with 420 thousand 187 doses. The next group is the 50 to 59 years of age, where 396 thousand 313 received both drugs to combat the disease. The rest belong to teachers, pregnant women, and health personnel.
JALISCO Contrary to what was thought, the return to face-to-face classes has not generated growth in the number of people hospitalized in the state, assured Enrique Alfaro, Governor of Jalisco. “In people hospitalized, the decrease has also been sustained. We are at 939 against the 1,400 we had four weeks ago. The rate of positives also dropped is at 20.5 against the 26.1 we had at the beginning of the strategy of face-to-face classes.” He exposed that, although the active cases, those of the last 15 days, rose a little, you can see a downward trend this week. Contagions in the previous week went down, as well as hospitalizations, the positivity rate. “From having 12,328 cases in the previous week, we are down to 10,111, in reality, what we see in cases we have a downward trend, not as fast as we would like, but in general it has remained down in the last four weeks,” he detailed. Following up on the weekly balance of the return to classes, Alfaro reported that an increase in attendance was recorded: with 98.9 percent of schools open, 86 percent of students in Jalisco opted for the face-toface model. “That is to say, the vast majority of Jalisco families have understood the importance of returning to face-toface classes. They have had confidence in the model we have developed together.”
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MEASURES TAKEN BY STATES IN MEXICO
STATE OF MEXICO The State of Mexico counted 79 new cases of covid-19, which brings the accumulated number of positive cases to 174,054, informed the State Health Secretariat. There are also 102,220 health discharges reported for the same number of people who overcame covid-19, as well as 26,290 patients classified as suspicious cases awaiting the sample taken from them, and 216,391 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. CDMX For the winter season, it is expected that in Mexico City, there will be an increase in Covid-19 infections but not in hospitalizations, said the head of the local Health Secretariat, Oliva Lopez Arellano. She indicated that a new vaccination plan for next year had not been defined, but the guidelines are being discussed. However, she said, what is being sought now is ending vaccination in people 18 years of age and older.
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VACCINATION PROGRESS
The Ministry of Health reports that 362,072 vaccines were applied this Sunday, for a total of 95 million 638,622 since the beginning of the National Vaccination Strategy. This means that 70 percent of the population 18 years of age and older have at least one dose against COVID-19. 2 million 254 thousand 786 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19, of which 41 million 918 thousand 336 completed the protection scheme, equivalent to 67 percent. The remaining 33 percent, that is, 20 million 336 thousand 450, received the first dose. By state, Mexico City reported 93 percent coverage and Queretaro 92 percent, while Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas and Yucatan reported 80 to 86 percent coverage.
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TOWARDS THE “NEW NORMAL”
DISTRIBUTION OF DEATHS PER STATE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
INFORMATION UPDATED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 AT 19:00 HRS LOCAL TIME.
NEW CASES REPORTED: 3,367
SOURCE: https://www.gob.mx/salud/
CONFIRMED CASES: 3,573,044
NEW DEATHS REPORTED: 262
CONFIRMED DEATHS: 271,765
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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 46.84
0 to 10.0 (1 states)
40.1 to 50 (6 states)
10.1 to 20 (2 states)
50.1 to 60 (3 states)
20.1 to 30 (6 states)
60.1 to 70 (3 states)
30.1 to 40 (7 states)
>70 (4 states)
Elaborated by Prodensa with information from the Health Ministry of Mexico
PANDEMIC’S SITUATION IN THE WORLD • As of September 20, 2021, globally there have been reported 228,394,572 confirmed cases (453,600 new cases) of COVID-19 and 4,690,186 deaths (67,287 new deaths*). Lethal rate: 2.1%. • In the last 14 days, the number of new cases accounts for 3% (7,638,654) of the total of accumulated cases.
SOURCE: https://www.gob.mx/salud/
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TOWARDS THE “NEW NORMAL” INCIDENTS OF CONTAGIONS IN THE POPULATION BY REGION AS OF SEPTEMBER 20
DEATH INCIDENTS IN POPULATION BY REGION AS OF SEPTEMBER 20
SOURCE: https://www.gob.mx/salud/
HOW TO HAVE A CLEAR DIGITAL COMMUNICATION?
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
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Technology and globalization brought the world together; we have at our disposal many communication platforms that allow us to connect with teams across the globe. Why, if we have many technological platforms to communicate, are we still facing communication barriers? Communication barriers can appear at any stage of the conversation.
YOELLE ROJAS Public Affairs & Communications Director
Let’s focus on digital communication; it can be by a typed text or a voice message. The message must be short, simple, and contain all the information we want to share. We can support the news with an image if we wish our interlocutor to visualize what we communicate.
If you are writing a message, type it correctly; make sure you are not making errors or using jargon that the other person won’t understand. You must be careful when the other person is not from your culture or speaks different languages. Put your message into context, make sure that you know your audience’s culture so the message can be delivered clearly. Never assume your audience understands your message, be sure of that, ask if everything is clear, and be open to questions. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively has become an increasingly desired skill in the workplace. Most people struggle with it. You can become a better communicator and reinforce your team’s skills by a better understanding of the communication process. Contact us to know more about how to develop your communication and public speaking skills.
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.
EHS
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COVID-19 VACCINE BOOSTER SHOT
Will people who received Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen (J&J/ Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine need a booster shot? It is likely that people who received a J&J COVID-19 vaccine will need a booster dose. Because the J&J/Janssen vaccine wasn’t given in the United States until 70 days after the first mRNA vaccine doses (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna). The data needed to make this decision aren’t available yet. These data are expected in the coming weeks. With those data in hand, the government will keep the public informed with a timely plan for J&J/Janssen booster shots.
LABOR
If we need a booster dose, does that mean that the vaccines aren’t working? No. COVID-19 vaccines are working very well to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death, even against the widely circulating Delta variant. However, public health experts are starting to see reduced protection against mild and moderate disease with the Delta variant. For that reason, the Departments of Health of several countries are planning for a booster shot so vaccinated people maintain protection over the coming months.
DAVID ANTUNEZ Environmental, Health, and Safety Director.
DRESS CODES The pandemic has modified many habits and created new customs in both companies and workers. Among the changes in habits is that of clothing. On the one hand, companies have added personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of COVID, and at home, for remote work, clothing is more relaxed and more casual, has become common. Some companies have begun to modify their dress codes to adapt them to the new protocols. When modifying dress codes in organizations, it is important to take care that they only take into account the roles or functions that each person performs without taking into account the gender of the workers to avoid falling into the imposition of sexist codes or perpetuating outdated gender roles by requiring some clothing for men that is not required for women or vice versa, requiring some clothing for women that do not apply to men.
ALVARO GARCIA HR, Vice President
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