Mexico City: Mexico has registered more than 1 million total coronavirus cases and nearly 100,000 test-confirmed deaths, though officials agree the number is probably much higher.
Health Director-General Ricardo Cort s Alcal said late Saturday the number of confirmed cases had reached 1,003,253, with at least 98,259 deaths from COVID-19.
How did Mexico get here? By marching resolutely, even defiantly, against many internationally accepted practices in pandemic management, from face mask-wearing to lockdowns, testing and contact tracing.
What is more, officials in Mexico claim science is on their side. Assistant Health Secretary Hugo L pez-Gatell says any wider testing would be a waste of time, effort and money.
Face masks, L pez-Gatell says, are an auxiliary measure to prevent spreading the virus. They do not protect us, but they are useful for watching other people.