Mexican authorities hold news conferences every day to provide updates on the number of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country. Some of the authorities in charge of the conferences are Dr. Hugo López Gatell, the Vice Minister of Prevention and Health Promotion, and Dr. José Luis Alomía Zegarra, the general director of Epidemiology.

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On September 18, health authorities confirmed 688,954 cases and 72,803 deaths in Mexico.

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For the first time during the pandemic, Mexico declared one of its states, the Gulf coast state of Campeche, as a medium or moderate-risk (yellow) area on August 14.

On August 28, Mexico’s Health Ministry declared another 9 states as moderate risk areas according to the national four-color coding system related to the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in each state. They are Sonora, Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tlaxcala, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Tabasco.

On September 11, Health authorities informed for the first time since the pandemic began in Mexico that no states are currently in the highest COVID-19 risk level (red).

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Protect yourself from COVID-19

The World Health Organization has issued several recommendations to protect yourself:

1. Wash your hands frequently: Regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash them with soap and water.

2. Maintain social distancing: Maintain at least 1-meter distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

3. Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth: Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose, or mouth and then enter the body.

4. Respiratory hygiene: Cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze.

5. Medical attention: Seek medical attention early if you have fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. Stay home if you feel sick.

These are 7 simple steps to protect yourself and others from #COVID19. https://t.co/RU2gRs6jmc #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/TNAw5YrP0u — World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) March 11, 2020

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Who is Dr. Hugo López Gatell?

He is a Medical Specialist in Internal Medicine and holds a Master in Medical Sciences and Doctor in Epidemiology.

En la medida en que logremos la inmovilización masiva de personas en el espacio público tendremos el beneficio de reducir la velocidad de transmisión del virus. Esta es nuestra última oportunidad de hacerlo ya. A las y los habitantes del país les decimos: #QuédateEnCasa. pic.twitter.com/DDTvJ4KKt0 — Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez (@HLGatell) March 29, 2020

He has extensive experience in academy and public service. Dr. López Gatell has served as general director of Epidemiology and National Focal Point for International Health Regulations, as well as Director of Innovation in Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control of the Research Center on Infectious Diseases (CISEI), and Director of National Health Surveys, at the National Institute of Public Health.

Furthermore, he was a research assistant in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH), located in the U.S.

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