Pemex, electricity commission employees hit hard by Covid-19

By

-

May 18, 2020

Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) have been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus with 1,245 confirmed cases between the two.

The state oil company reported 1,092 cases and 141 deaths as of Sunday, which corresponds to an average rate of infection of 20.7 per day and 2.5 daily deaths.

Of those infected, 146 are currently hospitalized and 31 patients are in intensive care.

Pemex, which employs 127,000 workers, reported its first infected employee on March 23, a 52-year-old union worker who earlier that month had taken a trip to Europe accompanied by his wife, daughter and 18-month-old granddaughter.

As of last week, more Pemex workers had died of coronavirus than nurses despite the fact that the oil company has 30% fewer employees than the number of nurses in Mexico.

Pemex has drawn fire for being slow to enact sanitary measures to prevent the spread of the virus. It only began evacuating workers from offshore platforms at the end of April. The company operates 24 hospitals to care for its employees.

“Pemex continues to implement a comprehensive prevention model to minimize the spread of Covid-19 among our workers, retirees and their families,” the company said in a statement last week. “Healthy distance measures continue to be intensified, as does work at home for administrative activities and vulnerable personnel, sanitary filters, cleaning and sanitation in work centers and distancing of operational personnel.”

The CFE, with some 90,000 employees, has seen 152 cases as of its last report on May 12.

Source: El Universal (sp), Bloomberg (en)

Amid uncertainty and doubt, an economic reopening begins in fits and starts

By

MND Staff

-

May 18, 2020

0

Some parts of Mexico and certain industries are emerging from the coronavirus lockdown on Monday but there is no certainty that the partial reopening of the economy won’t trigger new outbreaks of Covid-19.

The federal government announced on Saturday that 324 coronavirus-free municipalities can reopen starting today, adding 55 municipalities to an original list of 269.

The government said that residents of those municipalities can return to their normal economic and educational activities from today on, although the authorities in some states vetoed the decision.

Still, the majority of the so-called “municipalities of hope” – about two-thirds of them are in Oaxaca – will take their first steps on Monday into what is being called “the new normal.”

Under pressure from the United States to restore the North American supply chain, auto part manufacturers in some states including San Luis Potosí, Coahuila, Aguascalientes and Yucatán will resume operations today.

Some automakers and aerospace, mining and construction companies will also reopen their plants today with strict health measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

But the reopening carries risks.

Among those who have expressed concern about the decision to allow a partial economic reopening even as the coronavirus pandemic worsens is National Autonomous University (UNAM) epidemiologist and professor Malaquías López.

In an interview with the newspaper Milenio, López described the partial reopening as a risky “experiment,” asserting that it could lead to an increase in both case numbers and deaths in the next two to three weeks.

Some people think that the increase could be worse than “what we’ve [already] been through,” he said.

López, spokesman for the UNAM Covid-19 Commission, said that a serological survey in Spain – which has recorded almost five times as many confirmed coronavirus cases as Mexico – found that only 6% of people had Covid-19 antibodies, meaning that the vast majority of the population remains susceptible to infection.

In Mexico, he added, no serological testing has been done.

“We haven’t done anything here but if [the pandemic] hit a lot harder there than here, and they have a large number of susceptible people, what can we expect in Mexico? There are also a lot of susceptible people [here] and when we start to interact with each other infections will break out,” López said.

The epidemiologist said that a large wave of new Covid-19 infections would nullify the effects of the coronavirus mitigation measures that have now been in place across the country for almost two months.

The decision to lift restrictions in some municipalities and on some industries is “an experiment,” López said, because there is a lot of uncertainty about what effect it will have on the development of the pandemic.

“How do they know that nothing will happen? I think that there is a lot of risk,” he said.

The governors of several states agree that the risk of reopening the economy now, even in municipalities with no confirmed cases of Covid-19, outweighs the benefits.

Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro said that 23 municipalities in that state that were given the green light to reopen by the federal government would not be resuming normal activities today. He said that opening up some municipalities while others remained closed could be counterproductive.

Located about 130 kilometers southwest of Guadalajara, Tapalpa is one that has not recorded any coronavirus cases and which doesn’t border any with confirmed infections.

However, opening up the economy in Tapalpa – the municipal seat is one of 121 Pueblos Mágicos, or Magical Towns – could result in a flood of visitors from Guadalajara, Alfaro said.

“Imagine … the danger for the people of Tapalpa. This idea of opening some municipalities and not others is a serious mistake, … it won’t happen in Jalisco,” he said.

Guerrero Governor Héctor Astudillo said that none of the 10 coronavirus-free municipalities in that state will reopen today because the “appropriate conditions” to do so don’t exist.

He said coronavirus mitigation measures will remain in place in all of Guerrero’s 81 municipalities until at least June 1, the starting date for the federal government’s color-coded “stoplight” system, through which each state’s readiness to reopen will be assessed.

Authorities in Chihuahua, Yucatán and Puebla indicated that they wouldn’t allow coronavirus-free municipalities to reopen today either while only one of four “municipalities of hope” in Tamaulipas will resume normal activities.

Authorities in several states have also indicated that they will not reopen schools this academic year even if they are given the green light by the federal government to do so.

President López Obrador has said that municipal and state authorities will not be punished for not following federal government recommendations with regard to reopening the economy, although they are likely to come under pressure from business and many citizens if they delay the return to the “new normal” amid the sharp economic downturn.

Mexico is predicted to suffer a deep recession in 2020 but Finance Ministry officials have expressed confidence that the economy will bounce back quickly after the economy reopens.

However, reopening the economy too soon in a country where more than 5,000 people have already lost their lives to Covid-19 could have a devastating effect, making any financial gains pale into insignificance when compared with the decision’s human cost.

Source: Milenio (sp), El Financiero (sp)

The south’s natural environment flourishes amid coronavirus lockdown

By

Jack Gooderidge

-

May 18, 2020

0

Biolumninescence at an Acapulco beach last month.

The skies are clear over Beijing, dolphins have reclaimed the canals of Venice, and mountain goats roam the abandoned streets of North Wales.

It’s a truth self-evident and revealed to us throughout our history; our environment will eventually bite back and re-balance, undoing at least some of the damage of an often reckless entitlement. Once again, we’re starting to learn that our temporary absence offers universal respite — and Mexico is really no exception.

Since lockdown was imposed over a month ago, some extraordinary features of Mexico’s south have been revealing themselves once again. As we temporarily vacate our world, carbon levels drop, and wildlife is again allowed to flourish, gems that have been too often hidden are being seen and appreciated once again. Isla Holbox is one such case study.

Holbox is well renowned for its symbiosis with the environment. It famously welcomes eco-conscious travelers seeking to holiday in tandem with nature, and the island’s clientele over the last few decades has informed its ongoing ethos. But as positive an impact as it has had already, the drop in incoming visitors, as well as the continued wind-down of daily operations, has prompted recent sightings of giant manta rays and dolphins off the coast.

In addition to the unexpected sightings, hopes are high for the prospects of the Hawksbill turtles that come to nest on the beaches of Holbox every year. Farther inland, the island has a strong reputation as a sanctuary for birdlife, but now you’ll find more flamingos and herons than ever before.

It’s a similar story along the Riviera Maya and across the state of Quintana Roo. It’s no secret that the burgeoning tourism industry has all but desecrated the offshore habitats of vulnerable marine life. The tens of thousands of holiday-makers that descend on the beach leave it uninhabitable, and the behemothic cruise ships disturb the waters to such an extent that once ubiquitous sea creatures have long since abandoned them as their home.

Recently, however, as potential tourists remain locked down in their homes, the beaches and coastlines remain untouched for the first extended period in decades. As a result, pheasants, crocodiles, and even jaguars have been reported to be reclaiming large areas of Cancún. Perhaps the most unlikely scene was caught in front of a resort as a leatherback turtle was seen laying its eggs and nesting on the sea-front. But this resurgence isn’t confined to the coastline of the southeast, far from it.

Over on the coast of the southwest, Acapulco is experiencing scenes it hasn’t seen since before the area morphed into the world-famous tourist resort, decades ago. With increasing levels of organisms along the coast, bright flashes of blue, almost neon light, have been seen in the waves. Around 75% of deep-sea organisms emit this glow under the right conditions, but the consistent rotation of foot traffic in Acapulco over the years has disturbed the conditions in which this spectacle is allowed to thrive.

In lockdown, these organisms, finally being allowed to reclaim their natural habitats, have once again been providing one of the most mysterious natural phenomenons of the Mexican south.

This is all well and good, but the time will come when restrictions are lifted and “normal life” will once again resume. Of course, the population growth that species have been allowed as well as the reduced carbon emissions in the short term will still have happened, but won’t we quickly get back to reality, and the familiar plundering of our environment?

It is easy to envisage a situation in which the cabin-fever of quarantine galvanizes the masses to over-indulge in travel which may, within a few short months, reverse the positive effects of lockdown.

Alternatively, it is equally possible that those in lockdown who are spending extended periods with family and loved ones will have their priorities more permanently shifted. Many people may find that their experience of being with those they love over the period of lockdown has lessened their desire for traveling beyond the family unit. It is certainly a conceivable scenario and one that could lower emissions and ease congestion in tourist hotspots for the long haul.

Either way, we won’t truly understand the long-term fate of these newly revived eco-systems for a few more months, but we do have some early indicators. Many airlines are already beginning to list flights to the south of Mexico beginning as early as the first of June.

While we can only speculate at the demand for these trips this early on, it does show a clear and unfortunate corporate interest in making up for lost time. Whether this will translate into a universal desire to do so is still unclear, but in the meantime at least, the sea-life off the coast of Acapulco continues to illuminate the beaches at night.

Jack Gooderidge writes from Campeche.

Photographers donate their work to support Mexico City Covid hospital

By

Cody Copeland

-

May 18, 2020

0

A photograph by Annick Donkers that is among those being sold in the project called Fotos por México.

Over 100 renowned Mexican photographers have organized an online sale of select photos to raise funds for one of Mexico City’s hardest hit hospitals during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Fotos por México catalogue includes photos from long-established and canonical photographers like Graciela Iturbide, Emmanuel Lubezki and Maya Goded, as well as newcomers such as Nelson Morales and Alessandro Bo.

Co-organizer Adel Buzali said she was inspired by similar actions by photographers in Italy and the United States.

“When I saw the success of the project [in Italy] and the union of the artistic community in Italy and the United States, I thought of adopting the idea for Mexico, knowing beforehand that this would not be the first time Mexicans have shown solidarity in a difficult situation,” she said.

Fellow co-organizer Mauricio Maillé said that he was excited by the response from the artists who jumped at the chance to be involved.

“The generosity of the photographers — but also of the people buying the pieces — will allow us to create a powerful platform of solidarity in our country,” said Maillé.

Photographer Nelson Morales, whose work focuses on his unique perspective of the culture of a third gender called muxes in Oaxaca’s Isthmus of Tehuantepec, told Mexico News Daily that “it’s a great honor to contribute a bit of my art to this cause. I believe that all us creators should follow the example and show solidarity with our country in these difficult times.”

All of the photographs for sale can be seen on the Fotos por México Instagram account and the program website, where they can be purchased until May 25.

All funds the program receives will be donated to the Salvador Zubirán National Institute of Health Sciences and Nutrition in Mexico City, which is treating the most serious cases of Covid-19 in the metropolitan area.

Source: Life and Style (sp)

High prices for oranges overshadowed by virus fears during harvest

By

Susy Buchanan

-

May 18, 2020

0

Harvesting oranges in Güemez, Tamaulipas.

The Valencia orange harvest in Tamaulipas is seeing a boon as prices have soared to a record-setting 5,500 pesos (US $233) per tonne.

Although workers are wary of the coronavirus and sanitary measures are in place, part of the bonanza may, in fact, be due to a rise in demand for the vitamin C-rich fruit as an immune system booster.

As demand rises nationwide for the citrus fruit, states like Veracruz and San Luis Potosí have been unable to keep up, which is good for orchards in Tamaulipas where workers can earn between 700 and 1,000 pesos (US $30 to $42) a day.

“It is supply and demand, since there is no fruit on the market, prices rise,” explains Rodrigo Fernández, an expert in fruit marketing. “Because of the fear that was generated by the coronavirus, like it or not, people take vitamin C because of reports that it protects people’s immune system.”

But a latent fear of a massive outbreak of infection among orchard workers remains. Five people in the state’s orange-growing region have been infected thus far.

In El Carmen, Güémez, a region that produces the highest percentage of the state’s 500,000 total tonnes of oranges each year, Mayor Luis Lauro Reyes ordered the installation of sanitary checkpoints for workers, who are provided with masks and hand sanitizer and have their temperatures taken. And workers say they are taking sanitary measures seriously.

“The truth is I am a little afraid but I eat about eight oranges every day so it seems to me that we are well protected,” one worker told El Universal.

Source: El Universal (sp)

Security forces arrest 4 armed men handing out care packages

By

Cody Copeland

-

May 18, 2020

0

Cartel care packages in Veracruz on Saturday.

Security forces in Veracruz arrested four presumed cartel members who were handing out packages of supplies to needy citizens on Saturday while openly carrying weapons.

The four were handing out packages emblazoned with the initials of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in the municipality of La Perla.

After authorities received a report that the supplies were being distributed, state police, the army and the National Guard arrived on the scene to find around 400 people gathered to receive the donations.

They were greeted with gunfire by the presumed gangsters, who were subsequently overcome by security forces.

The Veracruz Public Security Ministry reported that security forces later found and seized a truck loaded with rifles, bulletproof vests, ammunition, magazines and other tactical gear, but did not specifically state that the seizure was related to the first incident.

Similar philanthropic actions by normally violent drug cartels have been reported elsewhere in Veracruz and the nation during the coronavirus pandemic, but police have been noticeably hands-off in other situations.

The daughter of notorious drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán was observed distributing packages stenciled with her father’s image in Zapopan, Guadalajara, in mid-April.

Source: Milenio (sp)

Spread of Covid-19 has stabilized in Valley of México, says deputy health minister

By

MND Staff

-

May 18, 2020

0

Covid-19 cases by state as of Sunday evening. milenio

The spread of Covid-19 has stabilized in the metropolitan area of Mexico City, Deputy Health Minister Hugo López-Gatell said on Sunday as the total number of coronavirus cases across the country approached 50,000.

López-Gatell said that the number of new cases reported on a daily basis over the past week in the Valley of México – the country’s coronavirus epicenter – has remained stable.

Mexico City has now recorded 13,762 Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic but only one in five cases – 2,838 – are currently active.

México state, which borders the capital to the north, west and east, has recorded 8,187 cases, of which 16%, or 1,355, are considered active.

Two municipalities that border Mexico City – Ecatepec and Nezahualycóyotl – have recorded more than 1,000 cases each since Covid-19 was first detected in Mexico at the end of February.

Covid-19 deaths recorded as of Sunday evening. milenio

López-Gatell said that the number of Covid-19 patients in intensive care in the Valley of México metropolitan area is predicted to peak on Tuesday of next week.

Data presented at Sunday night’s press briefing showed that 69% of beds with ventilators in Mexico City and 59% in México state are currently in use. Both percentages are well above the national occupancy rate for beds with ventilators, which is 32%.

Hospitals across many states can expect to face increasing pressure as the pandemic continues to grow.

López-Gatell reported that 49,219 people have now tested positive for Covid-19 and that 11,105 cases are considered active.

More than 2,000 new cases have now been reported on four consecutive days after 2,112 cases were added to Mexico’s tally on Saturday and 2,075 on Sunday. There are also 27,507 suspected coronavirus cases and 172,294 people have been tested.

After Mexico City and México state, Baja California ranks third for total case numbers, with 3,255, while Tabasco has the third largest active outbreak, with 644. The fourth and fifth largest active outbreaks are in Veracruz and Baja California, respectively. Just over half of all active cases in Mexico are concentrated in just five states.

Currently active Covid-19 cases by state. milenio

At the other end of the scale, five states have fewer than 100 active cases: Colima has 25, Baja California Sur has 61, Zacatecas has 65, Campeche has 91 and Chihuahua 97.

Colima also has the lowest coronavirus death toll in the country – just eight of 5,177 confirmed Covid-19 fatalities occurred in the small Pacific coast state.

Health Ministry data shows that the nationwide death toll increased by 132 on Sunday, 146 fewer fatalities than Saturday.

Based on confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths, Mexico’s fatality rate is 10.5 per 100 cases. However, in addition to the 5,177 confirmed Covid-19 deaths, 582 are suspected of having been caused by the disease, López-Gatell said.

Mexico City leads the country for confirmed deaths, with 1,332, followed by Baja California and México state, where 554 and 478 people have lost their lives to Covid-19.

Mexico has now been in phase three of the pandemic for one day shy of four weeks. The Health Ministry has reported 40,447 cases, 82% of the total, and 4,465 deaths, 86% of the total, during that period.

Source: La Jornada (sp), Milenio (sp)

In a country with no tigers, the tiger dance survives, particularly in Guerrero

By

Leigh Thelmadatter

-

May 16, 2020

0

A Tigrada in Chilapa, Guerrero, where participants fight each other to ask the gods for plenty of rain. Unleonfoto

There are no tigers native to Mexico, but there are “tiger” rituals in the form of dance.

They go by various names including Tecuanes, Tlalcololeros, Tlaminques, Tigres, Cimarrón and Lobitos, but they have two things in common: the image of a fierce wildcat (most often called a tiger) and a purely pre-Hispanic origin.

The misnaming of the central character most likely comes from early colonial chronicling, which incorrectly called the native wildcats tigers.

Lacking formal research, knowledge of the history of tiger dances is spotty at best. It is known that the jaguar was revered in all of Mesoamerica, and one theory is that the dances have Olmec roots. Modern tiger dances are unknown in the territory of the former Olmec Empire — the Gulf of Mexico lowlands of what is now Veracruz and Tabasco — but appear in areas where the Olmecs had contact. If there is an Olmec origin, how it got transmitted is unknown.

Colonial documents indicate efforts to eliminate tiger rituals, but not only do they survive, they show minimal Catholic influence. There are no invocations to the saints or the virgin, and performances on patron saint days seems to be a more recent phenomenon.

The Viejo Lucas is a character that appears in various but not all versions of the tiger dance. andrés junco

The dance is most commonly performed in the state of Guerrero, but it appears to have spread from there into Morelos, Puebla and the state of México. It migrated out of Guerrero about 100 years ago, but no one seems to know how this occurred. There are also tiger dances in Chiapas and Central America but it is unknown if they are related.

The tiger dance may be originally connected to the agricultural cycle. Rural Guerrero is rugged and isolated, allowing it to maintain much of life from before the Conquest. In subsistence agriculture, on which 80% of the population still depends, a good rainy season is essential to survival.

In almost all cases, participants wear masks and costumes. Masks are of lightweight wood or leather but in Morelos they are made of heavy papier-mache. The main character wears a feline mask and often a jumpsuit that mimics the cat’s hide.

The most common name related to the dance is Tecuanes, a Náhuatl word which historically meant any dangerous animal, not necessarily a wildcat. The dance appears in different forms among the various indigenous, mestizo and even Afro-Mexican communities that practice it, but it always revolves around a hunt for the dangerous animal, which is often eating the livestock of a rich landowner.

Other characters include one or more hunters, assistants, and many other animal species. It may be comical or serious, and the tiger is almost always killed.

The dance’s importance in Morelos is highlighted by the fact that the state worked to have Tecuanes dancer and teacher Florentino Sorela Severiano declared a Living Human Treasure by UNESCO. The dance is also an integral part of the identity of Acatlán de Osorio, Puebla. In both states there are important festivals related to the dance, bringing together dozens of dance groups and thousands of dancers.

A Tecuan dancer of Morelos. — A Tecuanes dancer of Morelos. andrés junco

And the dance continues to spread as people migrate out of those states. It can now be found in various neighborhoods in Mexico City, and north of the border in California and New York. The dance continues to evolve as well, with changes to dance moves, costumes, and accessories.

Almost all of the other names are for regional variations. One, Tlacololeros, is a shorter version held exclusively in June and July to petition for rain in various parts of central Guerrero.

Perhaps the most interesting petition for rain is not a dance at all. The Tigrada is performed in Chilapa, San Luis Acatlán and Zitlala as a violent ritual with origins related to festivals in honor of the rain god Tláloc. It is performed somewhat differently in the three towns, but townspeople pour onto the streets at the beginning or middle of the rainy season basically to fight.

Most wear tiger costumes or masks, and the blood and/or sweat spilled is a kind of sacrifice. The harder people fight, the better the rainy season.

Leigh Thelmadatter arrived in Mexico 17 years ago and fell in love with the land and the culture. She publishes a blog called Creative Hands of Mexicoand her first book, Mexican Cartonería: Paper, Paste and Fiesta, was published last year. Her culture blog appears weekly on Mexico News Daily.

Aeromar offer gives travelers unlimited flights for a single price

By

Cody Copeland

-

May 16, 2020

0

Passports offer special prices for frequent flyers.

Domestic airline Aeromar is offering unlimited flight packages in order to boost sales and motivate clients to travel after the Covid-19 outbreak just about shut down the airline industry.

The airline’s Pasaporte Aeromar program offers three different packages that allow passengers to fly certain routes an unlimited number of times until the close of 2020. Passengers will only have to pay for the taxes for each flight they take.

Clients can choose either gold, silver or bronze packages, each with distinct routes and prices.

The gold passport costs 9,999 pesos (US $418) and is valid for flights between Mexico City and Ciudad Victoria, Colima, Ixtepec, Lázaro Cárdenas, Manzanillo, Piedras Negras, Poza Rica, Saltillo, Tepic and McAllen, Texas.

The 6,999-peso (US $292) silver passport is for flights between Mexico City and San Luis Potosí, Oaxaca and the region known as La Huasteca Potosina, as well as Guadalajara-Puebla and Guadalajara-Puerto Vallarta.

The bronze passport applies to flights between Mexico City and Acapulco, Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Puerto Escondido and Veracruz and costs 4,999 pesos (US $209).

Passport travelers will have to book flights at least 48 hours in advance and all flights are subject to availability.

While other Mexican airlines like Aeroméxico and Interjet significantly limited their services at the beginning of the pandemic, Aeromar continues to fly 70% of its routes.

The airline has also helped support the fight against the spread of the coronavirus with its Heroes in Lab Coats program, which flew medical professionals free to destinations where they were needed up until its final day on Friday.

Information about purchasing passports can be found at the Aeromar website, but in Spanish only. The packages are being sold until May 20.

Source: Reportur (sp)

As many as 9 hurricanes forecast in Atlantic, 10 in Pacific this season

By

Susy Buchanan

-

May 16, 2020

0

Hurricane season began Friday on the Pacific coast.

The National Water Commission (Conagua) predicts that between 30 and 37 storms will form in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in 2020, with the most intense activity occurring in September and October.

In a virtual press conference, Conagua director Blanca Jiménez Cisneros forecast that some 15 to 19 storms will form in the Atlantic Ocean. Between eight and 10 will become tropical storms, four to five will develop into minor hurricanes and three to four are expected to become Category 3 hurricanes or higher.

The forecast for the Pacific Ocean predicts seven or eight tropical storms, four or five hurricanes of Category 1 or 2 and four or five hurricanes of Category 3, 4 or 5.

“This year, according to an analysis of ocean conditions from January through April, the season is expected to be more active,” Jiménez cautioned. However, she said the country is preparing its infrastructure for increased storm activity and rains.

Hospitals treating coronavirus patients will receive special weather alerts from the government, she said, which will be automatically updated every five minutes during a weather event based on meteorological radar and information garnered from satellite images.

Hospitals must continue to be able to operate effectively despite rain, wind, electrical storms or hail, Jiménez said, especially given the coronavirus pandemic.

In the event that shelters need to be opened, they will adhere to sanitary precautions as much as possible.

Conagua asks the public, especially those who live in high-risk areas, to heed all warnings and recommendations issued by Civil Protection during hurricane season, which runs from May 15 to November 30 in the eastern Pacific and from June 1 to November 30 in the Atlantic.

Source: El Financiero (sp)