MEXICO CITY, March 13 (Reuters) – Mexico could consider measures at its northern border to slow coronavirus’ spread into its relatively unaffected territory, health officials said on Friday, with an eye to containing a U.S. outbreak that has infected more than 1,800 people.
Mexico has so far confirmed 16 cases of coronavirus with no deaths, a fraction of more than 1,800 cases in the United States, where 41 people have died.
Mexico’s deputy health minister Hugo Lopez-Gatell said contagion from the United States was a threat.
“Mexico wouldn’t bring the virus to the United States, rather the United States would bring it here,” he said at a news conference “The possible flow of coronavirus would come from the north to the south.”
“If it were technically necessary, we would consider mechanisms of restriction or stronger surveillance,” he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, says coronavirus bolsters his argument for blocking northbound border crossings with a U.S.-Mexico wall.
Manhattan DA to retry Etan Patz’s killer after conviction in deadly 1979 kidnapping was overturned
Migrant teenagers charged in fatal stabbing of homeless man in Chicago
Muslim groups, other leaders demand Abbott rescind CAIR’s ‘terrorist’ designation: ‘Defamatory’
Rep. Swalwell sues Trump official over mortgage fraud allegations: ‘A gross abuse of power’
Roblox CEO calls child predator crisis an ‘opportunity’ amid ban of gamer who exposed groomers on platform
Miami woman allegedly slices boyfriend with machete after restaurant fight over infidelity
‘Zizian’ ringleader accuses Trump admin of transgender ‘genocide’ in courtroom tirade
DHS says four House Democrats ‘chose to stand with criminal illegal aliens’ after visiting ICE detainee
Navy sailor dies after rescuing 2 children from high surf in Hawaii waters
Parents/Grandparents Alert: Christmas AI Teddy Bears Can Teach Kids About Bondage Sex, How to Light Matches, Where to Find Knives, Pills, Plastic Bags
Fact Check: Did the Trump Administration Declare Nurses Aren’t ‘Professionals’?
NYC Council welcomes new mayor with bill that would dramatically raise salaries for city officials
Taliban vows to respond after alleged Pakistani strikes rock Afghanistan overnight
Hegseth seeks briefing on Sen Mark Kelly ‘Don’t Give Up the Ship’ viral video
Mamdani economic advisor is reparations activist who says ‘devaluation of Black lives’ ingrained in US system
Trump has long called for a wall on the Mexican border as a way to block migrants from entering the United States, and wrote on Twitter that the barrier is now needed “more than ever” as coronavirus spreads.
“To this point, and because we have had a very strong border policy, we have had 40 deaths related to CoronaVirus. If we had weak or open borders, that number would be many times higher!” Trump tweeted on Friday.
Unlike several other Latin American countries, Mexico has yet to take measures such as closing schools or banning entry to people coming from places with high numbers of coronavirus cases.
However, the private Tecnologico de Monterrey university said on Thursday it would suspend academic and classes from next week until further notice, while Mexico’s National Autonomous University (UNAM) said it would tighten preventative measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Story cited here.
