Coronavirus: Mexico overtakes UK to have third-most Covid-19 deaths in world
- The high death rate in Mexico, which is increasingly becoming a hotspot, indicates actual case numbers may be much higher than reported
- Mexico has been criticised for its lack of testing, leaving officials without information about the illness’s spread
The number of cases rose by a daily record of 8,458 to 424,637. Britain has 46,204 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Mexico has been criticised for its lack of testing, leaving officials without information about the illness’s spread. Deputy Health Minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell, who’s leading the country’s response on the virus, has acknowledged that while actual cases are much higher than official counts, the health ministry’s testing strategy is effective in tracking outbreaks.
As Mexico increasingly becomes a hotspot, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has largely focused on reactivating the economy over enacting strict lockdowns. He’s also downplayed the importance of using masks to slow the virus’s spread. In remarks July 25, he acknowledged the pandemic has hit the country hard and led to many deaths. He attributed the toll to the prevalence of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes.