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.
Mamdani says NYPD commissioner apologized after her brother called him ‘enemy’ of the Jewish people at gala
Harvard professor detained by ICE after Boston synagogue shooting, agrees to voluntarily leave US
Democrats’ anger at federal government hit record high just days before shutdown: Pew poll
Breaking: DC Pipe Bomb Suspect’s Family Has History of Working to Free Illegals from ICE, Sued the Trump Admin, And Used Trayvon Martin’s Lawyer to Fight So-Called Racism
Washington DC lights the National Christmas Tree
Ex–New York State official accused of spying for China called Hochul ‘more obedient’ than Cuomo, trial reveals
US carries out 22nd strike on alleged drug vessel operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization
‘I Didn’t Stutter’: Stephen A. Smith and Sunny Hostin Clash on ‘The View’ Over Video Urging Troops to Ignore Trump
Absolute Tragedy: U.S. Marine Dies After Horrific Camp Pendleton Accident
Suspected thieves caught on camera smashing Washington state storefront with truck in ATM heist attempt
Blue State’s Dems Steamroll Redistricting Change That All But Erases Its GOP from Congress
Grand jury declines to indict Letitia James after earlier case collapsed
FBI says Jan. 6 pipe bomb suspect purchased bomb parts in 2019
Trump scores 10 extra nominees after snafu with Senate Democrats
Admiral Tells Congress He Had a Good Reason for Ordering Second Strike on Drug Boat
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.
